A Very Healthy Christmas!

Brits pile on 20 MILLION stone over the festive period, so with ongoing COVID-19 concerns, is it time to make some changes?

- Bess Browning

By the evening, most of us have polished off a plate piled high with turkey and goose-fat roasties, knocked back several mulled wines, and are still managing to cram an assortment of Quality Street into our mouths while slumped in front of the Royle Family. Yet, there’s an increasing number of people for whom the Christmas Day belly bulge and overeating sweats are an old-fashioned festive stereotype. Instead, many have spent the morning twisting their svelte selves into 5am yoga poses, eaten a fat-free veggie feast followed by a flaming vegan Christmas pud.

You see, while Christmas is traditionally a time for overindulgence, under indulging is becoming ever more popular. As well as ditching pigs in blankets and eggnog, many are also becoming more eco-friendly, choosing second-hand or British-made gifts and recycling last year’s Christmas party dress.

Around 45% of shoppers are now conscious of environmental sustainability when they’re purchasing*, and 87% have switched to reusable products like gift bags and Advent calendars.** With COVID-19 making us realise the critical importance of our well-being, as well as the planet’s, could 2020 be our healthiest Christmas yet? Woman investigates.

‘WE’RE JUST TRYING TO DO OUR BIT’

Sally Giblin, 36, lives in London with her husband, Scott, 37, and their son, four.

As I finished listening to a podcast, I heard my son stirring from his slumber. It was 6.30am and, unlike most households on Christmas Day, I was always up way before my four-year-old. That’s because my morning routine involves a 5am run or online exercise class, a meditation or mindfulness session – sometimes listening to American motivational speaker TonyRobbins – followed by an uplifting or informative podcast. My one-hour morning practice sets me up for the day – and Christmas Day is no different.