Hot Chocolates and Plum Cakes: How to enjoy Christmas and New Year festivities without guilt

Christmas and New Year are times meant to relax, enjoy and reboot. It is the season of Santa, snow and sweets. Plum cakes, Hot Chocolates, candies are the real treat and cannot be labelled as “bad food”, especially during this season. While too much sugar is harmful but these baked items with walnuts and almonds provide warmth to the body and also make you feel festive and happy! Afterall there is a reason why these delicacies are prepared in this season. Winter is a time when the body needs calories to create warmth, if we talk about the season and its food connect in non technical language. It is precisely why in every culture, winter is associated with indulgent food.

Lavleen Kaur, Chief Dietitian & Founder, Santushti Holistic Health & Diet Insight Academy says that "Let us address the biggest misconception which is to completely avoid festive food and hence festive mode. The key is not to go with the all-or-nothing approach, but rather to stick to moderate consumption and full enjoyment. If you think you can overindulge during the festive season and fix everything in January, this will lead to excess bloating, hormonal issues and mess with your mental well-being. The body is built to adapt to balance and we must go by the same rule to avoid the cons of an unhealthy lifestyle."

Even celebrities who follow a strict diet, have their moments of indulgence. For example Kareena Kapoor is not guilty about having her biryani as long as she is practicing portion control. Similarly we are all aware of Shilpa Shetty's famous Sunday binge where she would polish off tubs of ice cream or bowls of rasmalai in one go. But the trick is to stay watchful of one's diet and be careful about the oveall intake of calories.

Hot chocolate will not cause harm to your body unless you overindulge. Hot Chocolate contains cocoa which is rich in antioxidants and magnesium making it a mood relaxant. Rather than having heavily sweetened mixes, go for real cocoa powder with jaggery powder, dates or some sugar. Avoid syrups, to make your hot chocolate experience guilt free. Use toned milk, oat milk or almond milk and prefer adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to improve flavour and control blood sugar spike. Hot chocolates are meant for mid-evening delight rather than a night time indulgence.

Plum cakes are also widely eaten during Christmas and these are made with dried fruits and nuts which make them healthy when eaten in moderation. It has fibre and minerals that support your metabolism and health. Any sweet be it hot chocolate or plum cake should not be consumed night. Eat a thin slice or a small portion to ensure you are not over eating. If you want to reduce sugar spike, pair it with protein like nuts or a cup of plain yogurt. This will keep your energy stable and you won’t feel the sugar rush.

Lavleen suggests some diet tips to follow while indulging during the festive season.
On festive days, keep a tab on what you eat. Ensure you have enough fibre, protein and nutrients in your regular meals. Hydrate well and do not skip meals to save calories rather control the portion to ensure that your calorie count does not spike. Follow three simple rules-

• 1. Start the day with protein rich meal.
• 2. Drink warm water and herbal teas and.
• 3. Take short walks post meals to support digestion.

Festive time calls for late nights and some alcohol factor. What is important is that you get proper sleep to ensure that you get enough time for recovery. Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones and increases cravings. Festivities carry emotions and family bonding and you must enjoy it to the fullest, however, focus more on memories than overeating at tables. Be mindful and enjoy every bite that you eat. This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy and control your portion. Celebrate fully but eat consciously, so that you welcome New Year without any regret.