Jolly Good Food

Now you can enjoy a happy, healthier holiday with Roxanne Marcus’ great tips for festive eating

- Roxanne Marcus

The holiday season is always about having fun: swimming, going away with your family, enjoying a braai with friends (well, for South Africans that is). Generally during this merry period, healthier food choices tend to be set aside to make way for the more indulgent empty-calorie choices. The word ‘December’ somehow rewires many people’s mind (including mine) to say okay to one more treat than usual. It’s a time of pizzas, hamburgers, ice cream and cake!

Fear not, we have some fantastic tips plus some easy ways to keep your family members’—as well as your own—body healthy during that time of the year when we often lose control in the face of tempting desserts, snacks and carbs.

We all have a general idea of what healthy eating involves, but let’s work together by making it a little easier, by implementing a few small adjustments to assist during the summer holidays. I don’t believe in making holiday eating complicated, so simplicity is the key! Below are a few fun ways to improve everyone’s nutrition over this indulgent time of the year.

SNEAKY SNACKS

Starting here hits a personal nerve for me, as it’s my own downfall. Snacks really are the unseen reason for weight gain over the festive season. They’re usually served before dinner and often fill us up, making us overeat before we’ve even had the big meal. If you’re hosting a braai, add an extra 10 minutes to your preparation time; it will only improve the eating for you and your family.

Try and leave the chips alone; don’t even consider them at the shops. I’d recommend rice crackers (available in many flavours) if a cracker of some sort is required. They are lower in calories and fat.