7 Tips For a Gut-Friendly Christmas
It’s tempting to let your nutrition plan become non-existent for a few weeks in December and “start over” in January. But you will feel SO much better if you continue eating well throughout the rest of the month. It also won’t feel as daunting next month when you “re-start” your healthy lifestyle. After all, it’s called a lifestyle for a reason, it’s not something you turn on and off!
Keep Your Fibre Intake Up
Ever get through without realizing you haven't even eaten a vegetable and that you've seriously been lacking fibre? Usually your body tells you... hello constipation. During the holidays, remember to keep your meals balanced and load up on veggies whenever the opportunity arises! Dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, almonds, walnuts and chia seeds are great options.
Remember to Drink Water!
It seems so simple right? Drink pure water. Then why do we so often forget? Fill up a bottle and keep it with you wherever you go. If you're outside, throw it in a backpack, if you're going to a restaurant, order bottled water or bring your own. If you always have it on hand, it will be so much easier to stay hydrated. Hydration is essential to keeping your bowels moving and gut happy, but avoid drinking with your meals, as this puts out your digestive fire.
Be Intentional About Enjoyment
High stress levels are a killer of a happy gut. Enjoy this season, surround yourself with the people you love and create memories. Giving back can also be an amazing way to not only bless someone else, but boost your joy! Stress less about food and being perfect and allow yourself to really enjoy this time. Even I indulge in gluten-free treats or a little sugar here and there!
Stay Balanced
If the meals you're served are heavier in carbs, such as bread or potatoes, balance them out with protein, fat and of course, fibre. Some of my favourite ways to balance my meals are to add coconut oil, especially on foods like sweet potatoes, to bake with coconut milk or add nuts to my meals for extra fats and crunch.
Keep Dairy, Gluten & Refined Sugar to a Minimum
You know the drill, these foods aren’t the most gut-friendly, so try swapping them out for gluten and dairy-free options. There are so many delicious treats and foods that can be made without these gut-irritating foods. Keep added sugars low and sweeten with natural sweeteners like raw honey and coconut sugar.
Stop Eating A Few Hours Before Bed
I've talked about this before, but simply not eating 2-3 hours before bed can do incredible things for your gut health. This is the time when we mindlessly snack, usually on unhealthy sweets and chips. Allow yourself a few nights to indulge, but give your digestion some rest on other days by just having tea or water in the evening. I promise, this little tip will help your gut feel so much better the next morning!
Make a Festive Digestive Tonic
This is the perfect time to try a fun wellness tonic like Solbru or make your own apple cider tonic! Add in delicious, gut-soothing spices like cardamom, clove, ginger and black pepper with raw honey and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar for a yummy, festive, gut-healing drink.
We hope you will truly enjoy this Christmas Season and make the most of the time you have with family! Merry Christmas from the team at Winnipeg Nutrition and we’ll see you in the New Year!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist™
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