Christmas – this year above all others we’re looking forward to it. Being close to friends and family, it’s a time for giving, sharing, and celebrations. But- if you’ve been disciplined and stuck to your keto diet these past few months, there can be a certain amount of anxiety.
How can you deal with the mountains of delicious food that will be on offer over the holidays? How can you avoid losing all those health benefits? How can you convince others that you have worked hard to change to a more healthy lifestyle, and don’t want to wipe out your achievements in a short period of overindulgence?
Follow our simple guide to help you enjoy the holidays and come out fit and well on the other side.
1. Take it easy
The first and most important rule is to acknowledge that you’re entering a short period where things aren’t normal. If you’re staying with others, you won’t be in full control at mealtimes. Family members want to shower you with attention and love by offering you delicious (non-keto) food.
The key to success is to take it very easy. Don’t become a keto-bore. Accept some of what’s on offer, or politely decline, without making a big deal. No lectures on nutrition. When someone has taken the time to create a special dish and presented it to you with love – accept it with love. No need to eat the whole plate, no need to have extra helpings. Just be a gracious guest, and generous with your appreciation.
If you’ve been doing keto for a while, you may not feel so great after eating carb-rich comfort foods, but that’s OK. It’s a good lesson in how your body has changed. Make a mental note that this isn’t how you’re going to eat long-term, smile, and rejoin the party.
2. Get cooking
Even as a guest, it may be possible to make the menus a little more keto-friendly, by offering to cook ‘your specialty’. This allows you to bring along your favorite keto ingredients, and prepare them just as you like. No need to emphasize how keto you’re being – whatever you create should, most of all, be as delicious as any of the other food on offer. There are hundreds of tasty keto recipes available online, from pizza to cookies and desserts.
Your target in this situation should be to become famous for your keto christmas cookies because they are so yummy, and everyone loves them, not because they contain the ideal fat/carb/protein balance.
3. Select your breakfast
Breakfast can probably be the most keto-pure meal of the day. It’s also the one where you’ll typically be asked what you like to eat. Here’s your chance to stay strictly keto. Without any controversy, go for ham, bacon, cheese, eggs, cooked with olive oil or butter. Add some avocado or a little steamed veg if you have it. Eat according to the plan you typically follow. No-one will even comment, as we all have specific foods prefer in the mornings. If you’re worried that your host or hostess won’t have the ingredients you’ll need, take a generous selection with you, for all to share.
4. Load on the veggies
Over the holidays, plan to double up on the number of low-carb vegetables you consume. This has two advantages. One, they will fill you up. Two, if your plate is overflowing with veg, there’ll be less pressure on you to load up on roast potatoes and carrots. Offering to help with the preparation can mean that there’s even a salad option with the Christmas dinner, or maybe some freshly-made avocado dip to snack on. The key is to prepare side dishes in such a way that everyone will love to try and to share with you – that’s truly in the holiday spirit.
5. Intermittent fasting
If the temptation is too great, or you’re under so much pressure from hospitable loved-ones, that you give in and eat everything that’s on offer, here’s the news. It’s not the end of your keto-world. Simply balance it with some intermittent fasting. For example, after a heavy lunch (1 pm-2 pm), you won’t need to eat in the evening. By breakfast at 8 am the next day, you’ll have fasted for 18 hours. If your last meal is a huge dinner, skip breakfast the next day and by lunchtime, you’ll have fasted for 15/16 hours. This will have given your digestive system time to clear and rest. And you’ll soon get back into ketosis.
So, to make your keto Christmas easy, plan ahead, be generous, enter into the spirit of warmth and hospitality. You’ll have the whole of next year to enjoy the fabulous benefits of your keto lifestyle.
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