Extra Nourishment and Nutrients At Christmas

With only a month until Christmas, give your body some extra nourishment and care to get you into 2024 feeling fresh and fabulous.

Step away from the chocolates! This time of year brings about many temptations and endless amounts of ‘Christmas treats’. Our supermarkets were filled weeks ago with literally floor to ceiling mountains of tubs of chocolates. It is wonderful to partake in gift giving and these tubs are usually on ‘irresistible specials’. However, maybe this is the year you gift something different. An experience, a sit-down meal with a friend who can’t cook, a walk around the Christmas markets, a cosy night in where you can actually hear your friends talk over some healthier snacks and mindful mocktails. Just because you’ve done boozy nights out for years and years, does not mean you need to carry on this tradition if it makes you feel unwell. Swapping out overpriced cocktails, for sparkling water with fresh lime and cranberry or some ginger beer, will give you a sparkly feel but no hangover! Even better, you can drive yourself home whenever you like, avoiding the teeth-chattering wait in the taxi queue!

As a Registered Nutritionist, I frequently hear the term, ‘Everything in moderation’, the trouble is moderation looks different from person to person. I am of the opinion that it is ok to have the mince pie and hot chocolate at the Christmas lights switch on, or the mulled wine and pretzel at the Christmas markets. But to fall into the very cleverly marketed sugar trap of all the seasonal gingerbread lattes with extra syrup, topped with sugary cream and marshmallows on a daily basis…..you might just start to feel a bit yucky.

I can vividly remember the torture of patiently waiting until Christmas to be allowed to finally eat a chocolate hanging on the Christmas tree! Did it stop us asking every day? No! However, it did teach us that we did not need to act on impulse and devour all the chocolates or candy canes (those appeared much later in our house and again not a given that you could just help yourself!) It was the same principle as opening presents, we all had to wait until Christmas day. Apples, clementines and nuts, help yourself-if you’re strong enough to crack those darn shells and not nip your fingers!

Daylight and movement are also important to remember over these winter months. If you are travelling to and from work in the dark, can you take a walk outside on your lunch break? Or are you in a job where it would be acceptable to leave earlier in daylight, to catch an afternoon stroll in the sun, then complete your work a little later once home and in your comfies?!

These months are prime soup and stew-making territory. Using seasonal grounding root vegetables to ensure beneficial fibre intake. Adding organic meats, or tofu, lentils and so on, into your stews to guarantee protein sources are regularly consumed. As always, the bottom line when it comes to nutrition is eating whole, real foods. Those that don’t have a long list of ingredients on the label. Label-free things include every vegetable, every fruit, meat, fish, nuts.

Why not indulge in some time out from the usual rush and madness, set aside some time to whip up some delicious, more nutrient-savvy ‘treats’ during this holiday period. Is there anything better than taste-testing freshly melted chocolate from a spoon!

Some sweet treat ideas:
• Stuffed dates with almond butter, drizzled with organic dark chocolate. Or stuff with a walnut, pecan, or almond.
• Dark chocolate bark with crushed pistachios, coconut flakes, goji berries/dried cherries/stem ginger, flaked almonds. Simply melt the chocolate gently, then pour onto a lined baking sheet. Get creative with your toppings and even a sprinkle of sea salt flakes.
• Sliced apple rings, fresh or lightly dried, drizzled with almond/cashew/hazelnut butter then sprinkled with cinnamon or mixed spice.

By using quality organic produce, from dark chocolate to your fruits and nuts, not only will you avoid unnecessary toxins from pesticides and so on but you may increase your nutrient intake of marvellous magnesium, antioxidants, some good fats and some protein.

Sally Munro is a Registered Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Yoga Teacher and Director of Simply Swim Aberdeen swim school. Working with clients of all ages and stages of life, Sally focuses on the simple steps you can take towards improving your health and wellbeing.

website: www.sallymunro.co.uk
email: hello@sallymunro.co.uk
Instagram: @salthewellnesswarrior
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