After the Holidays: a Guide to Eating Lighter

The holidays are over and, as every year, they’ve taken their toll! So, to start January on the right foot and get back on track, it is time to press pause. Time for a short post-holiday routine to recharge your batteries and get through winter feeling your best. On the menu: a full day of balanced meals, with recipe ideas for every meal, followed by 4 key tips (drinking, moving, cutting out snacking and sleeping). Ready? Follow us!

Why rebalance your meals after the holidays?

Between the desserts, the aperitifs and the constant temptations, if you’ve stepped on the scales at the start of the year, you may have noticed a few extra pounds that weren’t there before… Don’t panic! Getting back into good habits and starting a post-holiday routine is a good way to begin the year feeling motivated and more comfortable in yourself. Follow our simple tips to ease yourself back into your usual routine!

Balanced meals for after the holidays

After the festive season, it’s time to take back control by rebalancing your diet. To help you ease into the new year, here is a full day of light and varied meals.

Breakfast

To start your morning, drink the juice of a lemon in a glass of water on an empty stomach, or try a homemade juice (we share our favourite recipe just below). You can then have one or two pieces of fruit (apple, pear, orange, mandarin, banana…) with two prunes. Add a yoghurt with honey or maple syrup, along with 60g of wholegrain bread. Don’t forget a warm drink (green tea, rooibos, white tea or herbal infusion), but no coffee!

Recipe idea: orange, carrot and beetroot juice

Ingredients:

• 1 large orange
• 1 large carrot
• 1 stick of celery
• 1 small beetroot
• 1 piece of fresh ginger

Lunch

For this meal, divide your plate into three: one portion for protein, one for carbohydrates, and one for vegetables. For protein, opt for white fish (cod, hake, sea bass) or oily fish (rich in good fats, such as sardines or mackerel), or poultry. No red meat! For carbohydrates, go for brown rice or wholegrain pasta. As for vegetables, cook them with a little olive oil: carrots, cauliflower, green beans, leeks, aubergines, etc. Finish the meal with a yoghurt or a piece of fruit.

Dish idea: pan-fried prawns on a bed of artichokes

Ingredients:

• 2 large artichokes
• 6 large prawns
• 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
• 3 sprigs of fresh coriander
• 3 sprigs of parsley
• 1 handful of split peas
• 1 tsp walnut oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• Salt, pepper

Dinner

Go for steamed vegetables or a vegetable soup to load up on vitamins. Don’t forget to include some protein: flaked tuna, surimi, chicken breast, fish fillet… Finish with a soy yoghurt. And absolutely no starchy carbs!

Dinner idea: creamy carrot and squash soup

Ingredients:

• 1 kg squash
• 500g carrots
• 2 potatoes
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 onion
• 1/2 l milk
• 1/2 l chicken stock
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Nutmeg
• Light single cream
• Pumpkin seeds
• A little salt, pepper

And don’t forget your protein portion!

What are the 4 key tips for a successful post-holiday reset?

Drink enough

Our bodies sometimes confuse hunger with thirst… Remember to drink enough every day. You can generally aim for around 8 to 9 glasses of liquid per day. Drinking more than a litre of water a day is a good habit to adopt.

Tip: Bored of plain water? Try a herbal infusion, fruit-infused water, a smoothie or warm lemon water!

Get moving!

You may have put exercise on the back burner over the past few days, through lack of time or motivation. Now it’s time to get back into it! Set yourself goals and go for it! You can pick up your usual fitness routine or use the new year as an opportunity to try something new.

Tip: Don’t step on the scales! Take your measurements instead and note them down each week to track your progress.

Cut out the snacking

A little chocolate here, a slice of yule log there… Stop! Your body has got used to overeating, so you may find yourself feeling peckish between meals. However, if you give in to everything within reach, not only do you risk putting on weight, but you may also make it harder to get back into your usual routine. Try not to give in for several days in a row: little by little, the urge to eat between meals should become less frequent.

Tip: If you do feel hungry between your 3 main meals, feel free to have snacks that you’ve prepared in advance (e.g. a handful of dried fruit, a cereal bar, a piece of fruit…).

Sleep

It bears repeating: sleep is essential for feeling your best! Fatigue often triggers cravings, makes you skip your workouts and can also take a toll on your mood… So try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night to feel energised throughout the day!

Tip: It’s best not to exercise right before bed. Physical activity “wakes up” your body and can disrupt your sleep. Try to schedule your workout at least 2 hours before bedtime.

So, what do you think? Ready to start your post-holiday routine with us? Follow these tips and you’ll have everything you need to start the year on the right foot!

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Useful categories: Slimming Nutrition.

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