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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 drink less during the holidays
There are several reasons why you might want to dial back on your alcohol drinking during the holidays, including health, driving, weight management and budget constraints. In this article you’ll find 3 strategies to drink less during the holidays. Why to drink less during the holidays Many people tend to drink in excess during the holidays. While short-term excess drinking might not affect your health long-term, it might increase your chances of: How to drink less during the holidays 1. Alternate water and alcohol Drink a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage. This will slow down your alcohol intake and keep you hydrated. 2. Drink less alcoholic drinks For…
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Balancing out overeating
Most people will overeat during the holiday period and/or while travelling. This is normal and forcing yourself to resist every single morsel of food can have detrimental effects to your mental health and enjoyment. A better approach is balancing out overeating by following the tips below. Why care about overeating? Eating and drinking more than usual is normal during the end of year holidays. Gaining weight and/or body fat as a result is also normal. For many people, going back to their routine will eventually take care of that. However, you might want to speed up this process if you have health conditions that are worsened by excess weight, you…
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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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Eating in Japan with a gluten intolerance
My husband and I recently came back from our first trip to Japan. We didn’t plan it this way but it turned out to be a Buddhist/food trip. It was perfect! However, eating in Japan with a gluten intolerance can be challenging. The only thing that always worries me a little every time I travel is the gluten. I don’t need to avoid it completely because I don’t have Coeliac Disease (CD), but I am intolerant to gluten. Like every intolerance (e.g. lactose, histamines), symptoms may occur when a certain threshold is passed. In my case, I can get away with eating some fermented gluten-containing foods (e.g. soy sauce, sourdough)…
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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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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…
