Here we are! After months of anticipation, the time has finally come to enjoy the festive season with family, gathered around a beautifully decorated table and one (or several) delicious meals! Foie gras, capon, champagne, yule log… The holidays are often synonymous with overindulgence — so how do you avoid undoing a whole year’s worth of effort in one sitting? How do you digest well while still enjoying the festivities without regretting it the next morning? The answer: plan ahead and adopt the right habits before, during and after your Christmas dinner. Here are our best tips to support digestion and get through the festive meals with minimal damage!
Sommaire
Digesting your Christmas dinner starts a few days before the big night
How? Here’s the plan in 3 steps!
Step 1
First things first: from today until Christmas Eve, ditch the creamy sauces and heavy dishes, cut out snacking, eat lighter and healthier, reduce your portions and focus on fruits and vegetables! And while you’re at it, prioritise fruits and vegetables known for their anti-cellulite properties — two birds, one stone!
When it comes to fruit, go seasonal! What’s in season? In December, citrus fruits take centre stage — think grapefruit, orange and mandarin! Why? Because they’re packed with vitamin C and bioflavonoids that boost circulation and support the elimination of toxins! And don’t overlook another seasonal favourite: the kiwi! The ultimate winter fruit, kiwi can be enjoyed freely — its high fibre content makes it a great ally for a flat stomach. Say goodbye to bloating and hello to a slimmer silhouette!
As for seasonal vegetables, we particularly recommend leek and cabbage! Why? Leek helps flush out toxins and is one of the best foods for combating cellulite and dimpling. Cabbage (cauliflower, red, Brussels sprouts, etc.), meanwhile, regulates the body’s absorption of sugars and helps curb appetite thanks to its high fibre content.
Step 2
A few hours before the meal, to help prevent bloating caused by overindulging in food and festive treats, apple cider vinegar is your best friend! Our magic potion: 3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar diluted in a large glass of water. If the taste is too sharp, add a little honey to mellow it out.
Step 3
On the big day, don’t skip breakfast or lunch! Arriving completely starving means you’re likely to throw yourself at the aperitifs and end up bloated before the evening has even properly begun.
During the Christmas Eve dinner — a few tips for better digestion?
The evening is underway and you can already feel yourself about to overindulge? Don’t panic! To digest your Christmas dinner well, here are two simple tips to apply during the meal.
Tip 1
Don’t overdo the alcohol! It increases acid secretion in the stomach and can worsen the feeling of heartburn after a big meal — not ideal during a festive feast! That said, if you do fancy a glass or two of champagne, no need to worry. Champagne is actually one of the least calorific alcoholic drinks (along with cider)!
Why is alcohol such a disaster for your figure and cellulite?
Tip 2
To digest your Christmas dinner properly, take your time eating — there’s no rush! The presents won’t be opened until midnight anyway, so relax and enjoy the moment. Chew your food well and take breaks between the aperitif, starter, main course and yule log. The more pauses you take, the more your body will register that the meal is winding down. Without even realising it, you’ll send yourself a feeling of fullness — and you’ll find yourself reaching for just a small slice of yule log!
And after Christmas Eve dinner, what next?
Christmas Eve is over — now it’s time for Christmas Day lunch! To prepare your body for another big feast after the night before, here are 3 key tips!
Tip 1
As soon as you wake up, reach for a large glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice! A detox and anti-cellulite ally, lemon cleanses, purifies and stimulates the metabolism — and combined with water, it naturally helps the liver release toxins.
Tip 2:
Drink green tea. Rich in essential nutrients and well known for its diuretic properties, it ticks all the boxes! Detox teas support digestion, especially those containing anise and linden. They’re also a wonderful way to achieve a flat stomach and deeply detoxify the body.
Tip 3
Before sitting back down at the table and giving in to more festive temptations, get some fresh air! After overindulging, summon your courage and head out for a 20-minute jog or, at the very least, a brisk walk at a moderate pace. This will stimulate your circulation and help your body digest the previous night’s meal before the next one begins.
And for those of you who absolutely refuse to set foot outside (we see you!), we have a solution! You can stay warm and cosy while doing a series of exercises to work off the previous day’s excesses and feel lighter. And if we told you that this express routine is also anti-cellulite — would that be enough to motivate you to slip into your favourite workout gear? If you’re looking for anti-cellulite fitness routine ideas, here are a few links to other blog articles that can help.
=> Express anti-cellulite routine for the buttocks
=> Express anti-cellulite routine for the thighs
=> Express anti-cellulite routine for the stomach
There you have it — you now have everything you need to handle your Christmas dinner like a pro!