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Last minute gifts for foodies
If you tend to procrastinate, it is probably too late to order gifts online. The good news is you can find last minute gifts for foodies in regular supermarkets and grocery stores. When buying gifts for someone you care about, it is good to put a bit of thought to get something that is special to them. If you don’t know them well, you can always ask their family or people who know them better in order to find out what their interests are. Foodies are a tricky bunch. Some are very particular about their taste, so it pays to do some research beforehand. Last minute gifts for foodies While…
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How to survive the holiday season
Welcome to the 2021 edition of the “How to survive the holiday season” guide! Hope the tips below help you stick to healthy habits during this hectic time of the year. Holiday season, 2021 edition 2020 was hard, 2021 has potentially been harder. Some of us thought we wouldn’t go through lockdown again but we were wrong. On top of the frustration of being “trapped” at home, we added the burnout of having been there before. Mental health suffered, healthy habits went off the window. The holiday season comes packed with family and other social commitments despite life not being “back to normal” yet. Under normal circumstances, being “naughty” for…
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Christmas recipe roundup
Here’s the 2020 edition of my Christmas recipe roundup which might be useful if you’re out of ideas for the festive season. Appetizer 2 ingredient devilled eggs Devilled eggs might be out of fashion but they are a fantastic appetizer/finger food for many reasons. They are easy to make, economical, filling and nutritious. They are naturally free of gluten, dairy and other allergens such as nuts, seafood and soy. No, they are not vegan but they low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Get the recipe here. Easy guacamole Guacamole is super easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. Bonus points: it’s gluten-free, vegan, packed with nutrients and not…
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How to survive the holiday season
One month till Christmas! Yes, yes, Christmas 2020 will not be like any other Christmas but the holiday season always comes packed with plenty of opportunities to break healthy habits. Keep reading to find out how to survive the holiday season, 2020 edition. Holiday season, version 2020 This year everything is different. Although we are lucky that there are not as many cases in Australia as in other countries, the way we live our lives has changed, at least for a period of time. Many people are not back to their work or study places full-time and large gatherings are not allowed. Private gatherings are also meant to be held…
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Christmas recipe roundup
If you can’t decide what to cook on or around the holidays, here is a Christmas recipe roundup with hopefully useful ideas. Appetizer 2 ingredient devilled eggs Devilled eggs might be out of fashion but they are a fantastic appetizer/finger food for many reasons. They are easy to make, economical, filling and nutritious. They are naturally free of gluten, dairy and other allergens such as nuts, seafood and soy. No, they are not vegan but they low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Get the recipe here. Side dishes Christmas sides Applesauce and Russian salad are the side dishes I grew up eating every Christmas eve. They are usually served…
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10 tips to survive the holiday season
Three weeks til Christmas! As your calendar gets busier and stress levels build up, remember these 10 tips to survive the holiday season. This is a revised version of last year’s seasonal article How to stay healthy during the holidays. 1. Healthy habits Keep your habits as untouched as possible. Eat your usual (hopefully healthy) diet, do your regular physical activities, keep meditating if you normally do it. Make sure you sleep well; poor sleep leads to hormonal imbalances and poor decision making when it comes to food choices. A healthy routine is the best way to minimise the impact of occasional deviations from the plan. 2. RSVP honestly Say…
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Recipe: Gingerbread bliss balls
These gingerbread bliss balls are a great treat to make in the holiday season. This is mainly because unlike actual gingerbread, you don’t have to rely on baking nor decorating skills. Make a batch or two to enjoy during the holidays or to give as gifts. I like using dry roasted nuts mainly for flavour. Feel free to use raw nuts if that’s what you have on hand. You may also use regular dried dates instead of Medjool but you may need to soak them in hot water and then drain them to soften them up. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.
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How to stay healthy during the holidays
Christmas and New Year are almost here and many people are wondering how to stay healthy during the holidays. Some people don’t even think this is possible and just surrender to gluttony. Tips for staying healthy Below are some ideas that hopefully will help you mitigate the damage during the holidays. Be consistent most of the time. The holidays and a few other occasions (e.g. your wedding) are not times to stress about “clean eating” if you eat well the majority of the time. Move often. Exercising can be a challenge during the holidays because of social commitments and the fact that most gyms are closed. However, that doesn’t mean…
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Recipe: Christmas sides
If you feel like trying different sides this Christmas, give these a go. They make an appearance every single year at my family table on Christmas Eve dinner but I don’t think they are very popular on this side of the world (particularly our take on Russian-style salad!). This year I dry-brined a small turkey following Serious Eats’ Quick and Dirty Guide to Brining Chicken or Turkey. I seasoned it with a Peruvian-style marinade featuring ají panca, garlic, vinegar, spices and brown ale. The recipes below pair well with turkey, pork and chicken. Enjoy!
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Recipe: Peruvian-spiced Christmas turkey
This is my version of the roasted turkey we had every Christmas back home. I used to marinate it with a pre-made spice mix, stout, and Coke (I know…). A while ago I tested a recipe for charcoal chicken and I thought “this tastes like Christmas turkey”, so I tweaked the recipe and the result was very damn close.
