Christmas Day(Mon, 25 Dec, 2023) is coming soon. On this day, Christians will be filled with joy and excitement for many reasons
Like other holidays, Christmas celebrations are synonymous with gathering with family and filled with various food offerings.
Unfortunately, during the Christmas period until New Year, many people compromise with their health and neglect to pay attention to the food they consume.
Most people gain weight after the Christmas and New Year holidays. So that your weight remains stable during the Christmas celebrations, choose healthy and nutritious Christmas foods. Tips for Keeping Cholesterol Safe on Christmas Day
Here are some healthy Christmas food choices that you can make and consume with your family and the Benefits of Celebrating Christmas with Family for Mental Health
1. Grilled meat
Of course, it’s hard to resist this dish at the dinner table. Low-fat red meat can increase hemoglobin, making it a healthy Christmas food choice for those of you who suffer from anemia or a lack of red blood cells.
To make it, you only need salt, black pepper, and other spices to taste. Then, roast in the oven or bake in the form of satay.
There is no need to add butter to the meat so that the level of saturated fat does not increase. Avoid grilling at a very high temperature.
As a combination, also serve vegetables; such as carrots, beans, asparagus, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, corn, potatoes, or others according to your taste.
Once ready to serve, you can add a source of healthy fat such as olive oil.
2. Grilled Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce
Another Christmas food that is also healthy is grilled chicken with the addition of sweet and sour sauce.
To do this, soak the chicken in seasoning consisting of rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, pepper and salt according to taste. Let the marinade soak into the chicken pieces.
Skewer pieces of chicken, peppers and onions alternately to form kebabs, and grill over charcoal. Occasionally, brush with the marinade periodically.
Once cooked, serve the grilled chicken with brown rice or another source of complex carbohydrates. Don’t forget to include vegetables too, OK? Celebrate Christmas, and Limit Consumption of These Foods so Your Diet Isn’t Ruined
3. Spinach Cake with Cheese
You can also make spinach cakes as a healthy appetizer option for Christmas.
The ingredients are fairly easy, namely spinach, ricotta cheese, grated cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
How to make it: Start by beating the eggs in a bowl, add the chopped spinach, crushed garlic, and salt and pepper to taste then stir until evenly mixed.
Put the mixture into the mold, and steam for 20 to 30 minutes. Once cooked, the dough will be firmer like a cake.
4. Fruit Bread Pudding
As a dessert, you can also serve fruit bread pudding as a Christmas meal.
The ingredients are white bread; fruit, such as strawberries, kiwi, oranges, and grapes; egg; egg whites; low-fat liquid milk; cream; honey; and salt to taste.
The way to make it is to place one layer of bread so that it covers the bottom of the pan, then alternate it with fruit on top. Accompany with a layer of bread and fruit afterward. Keep repeating until you run out of fruit and bread.
After that, beat the eggs, egg whites, cream, milk, honey and salt in a bowl until evenly mixed. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet and let it sit for one hour.
After that, bake for 30 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Don’t forget to cover it with aluminum foil beforehand.
After 30 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and bake the mixture again for an hour until the pudding texture looks firm.
5. Aneka Salad
You can also serve low-carb salads during Christmas. Mix avocado, eggs, tomatoes, lemon, salt and pepper to taste.
You can also combine it with cheese or other sources of protein, such as meat, to complete this healthy salad.
6. It’s Matcha Latte
Matcha is known for its many health benefits, including containing high levels of antioxidants and increasing metabolism, so it doesn’t make you gain weight quickly.
Make sure you choose matcha powder that doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners, okay? Additionally, add low-fat milk to make the matcha latte lower in calories. Serve cold for a more delicious taste.
7. Chia Pudding with Berry Sauce
For this last menu, you need to prepare ingredients such as berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries), chia seeds, almond milk, and honey.
To make it, you need to mix chia seeds, almond milk, and honey in a bowl. Stir until smooth and make sure the chia seeds are mixed well. After that, cover the bowl and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight until the pudding thickens.
For the sauce, you can blend or crush fresh berries to make a sauce. Then you can mix honey and a pinch of salt and stir until smooth.
You can take the pudding that has hardened and pour berry sauce on top according to your taste.
Well, there are lots of healthy food choices for Christmas that you can explore and serve to your family.
Don’t forget to stay active and get enough rest, okay? That way, you can enjoy time with your family in a healthy and fit condition.