Food and drink are often a big part of holiday season celebrations. You can still enjoy all the wonderful parts of this time of year, without overindulging and finding yourself in a 'food coma'. Our LiveLighter team have put together some of their top tips for planning a happy and healthy holiday season!
- Include appetizers and veggies to snack on
Appetisers and nibblies are a great opportunity to get a rainbow on the table, with snacks that look and taste delicious!
- Make vegie, bean or yoghurt based dips - we've got some lovely recipes on the LiveLighter website that are way cheaper than ready-made.
- Add some colour to your trays. Add vegie sticks, olives and cherry tomatoes to your antipasto platters and cheeseboards.
- Bowls of fancy flavoured popcorn are great to nibble on.
- Try alcohol free alternatives
There's a surprising number of kilojoules in alcoholic drinks. Just two bottles of cider has about the same number of kilojoules as a cheeseburger! Less alcohol = less kilojoules and a clearer head.
- Drink plenty of water. If you are hosting, put water in the same esky as the alcoholic drinks - it'll remind people to take a break and hydrate.
- Try a fancy non-alcoholic drink. LiveLighter have got some beautiful ideas here, including the festive pineapple sparkler pictured above.
LiveLighter has put together some suggestions on what to drink when you're not drinking.
- Go for colourful and tasty salads
Whether you're hosting or bringing a plate, big, bold, colourful and satisfying salads are a great option that will have people coming back for more.
- Roasted vegies are amazing in salads. Try roasting some pumpkin, onion, and zucchini with your favourite spice mix, then add feta and baby spinach. For an extra boost, add some roast beef, and you've got a winning combination!
- Add some fruit. Currants are nice in a rice salad, green apple is great in a coleslaw and mango goes a treat in a salsa.
- Dress(ing) it up. Swap half the mayo for yoghurt in a creamy dressing, and use less oil and more citrus in a vinaigrette. Remember to wait until the last minute to add the dressing to keep the vegies crisp.
Visit the LiveLighter website for more tips on how to "hero" your vegies.
- Replace traditional dessert with something fresh and fruity
Dessert is often the thing that pushes us over the edge into food coma territory. Try taking a good break (and even a gentle stroll!) before dessert to let your meal settle and improve your digestion. Try these tips for a lighter finish to the meal:
- Cherries, mangoes, nectarines, melon and peaches are all at their best in summer! Make a lovely fruit platter or feature these fruits in your dessert.
- Instead of double cream, use whipped cream, vanilla yoghurt or even ice cream for a lighter option.
- Portion control. Mini pies and small pieces of cake give people the option of having just a little taste.
- Looking for something refreshing, but not so traditional? Check out these delicious popsicles and sorbets.
- Catch-up with friends without alcohol
Spending time with friends this holiday season doesn't need to involve alcohol. There's plenty of enjoyable ways to catch up and connect that focus on health and well-being:
- Have a walking catch-up at a local park
- Meet up at a café
- Host a picnic with alcohol free alternatives
- Invite friends over to your house for a movie night or board games
- Keep the family active with a fun activity
Holiday season means long and warm days which can be a great opportunity to get outside and get moving!
A visit to the pool or beach, bushwalking, a local playground, aquarium or zoo can be a great outing for the family. You could even swap the typical dinner for something different like a picnic with lawn games, an escape room or ten pin bowling to get moving.
