About the author: Jen Jones writes on international medical insurance and nutrition for a number of UK and overseas blogs and websites.
Hmm. The festive season doesn't seem like the healthiest time of the year, on the face of it. We're bombarded with images on groaning tables, christmas puds, bottles of fizzy pop and a general atmosphere of tucking in and indulging.
But while that may be what we see in terms of Christmas portrayals, this can actually be a very healthy time of year if we know how to navigate our way through the hazards and seek out the healthy stuff. So here are some of the things that can help you have a healthful holiday season!
Look out for the Christmas superfoods. That's right - in among that groaning table's piles of treats and delicacies there is a lot of nutrition to be had ...
Take turkey for instance. It's a dish I'm passionate about for many reasons - not all of which are down to it being deliciously festive. Turkey is also a great source of protein while also managing to be low in fat - lower than chicken for instance. And it's such a versatile meat that can be used in so many ways - in healthy brown bread sandwiches, in lovely post- Christmas curries, and many more. The centrepiece of the Christmas table is one very healthy dish.
And then of course there are the sprouts, the parsnips, and any other of the veg that you serve with the turkey. All those vitamins and mierlas, plus the fibre in the veg go to making this a very healthy meal indeed. Just moderate the roast potato intake and it's a very balanced and nutritious meal.
A lot of the other festive goodies that we buy each year are also very good too - walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds - all of these are packed with nutrient goodies as well as making a tasty snack. On top of that we also have cranberries, mandarins, and other nuts and fruit that go to make Christmas a much healthier time than many might imagine - as lomg as the healthy stuff is the focus.
Add in the fact that the holidays also offer us plenty of time to unwind, de-stress, and generally have fun and it's a recipe for good health. Of course for the energetic among us there are opportunites for long walks in the country (or city) plus winter sports such as skiing. And if there's no snow, it's still fun to do winter skiing on an artificial slope.