While Christmas in general is a time for catching up with friends and family, enjoying the magic with your children and indulging in some good seasonal fare remember it can be a difficult time of year for some.
Often throwing family together, indoors, for long periods may trigger tensions to arise. Keep the peace and enjoy each other’s company by making sure to give everyone their own space, help out to spread the chores so you can all enjoy the break, wrap up and get out for a walk, and be aware that excessive alcohol can often trigger arguments that otherwise may not occur.
Useful information is available at www.drinkaware.ie , www.accord.ie, www.aware.ie
The financial demands at Christmas time can be great and a source of added stress in the family. For simple advice that may help MABS (Money advice and Budgeting service) have a useful leaflet available online at www.mabs.ie or see www.citizensinformation.ie for any supports that you may be entitled too.
While enjoying all the traditional festive treats is part of the joys of Christmas a little forward thinking can avoid unpleasant food poisoning or the need to start the New Year with a diet. www.safefood.eu
Healthy Eating Tips for Christmas Season
Christmas can be a time of indulgence, not just on the big day itself where the average person consumes up to 3 times their required daily calorie intake, but over the extended party season.
Here are a few simple tips to follow to ensure that January can get off to a bright and healthy start.
- Think about your food carefully when doing Christmas shopping in the run up to the festive season. Avoid stocking up in the weeks before on high calorie snack foods, sweets and drinks.
When faced with a Christmas party never attend with an empty stomach. This will help you not to over indulge on both alcohol and party foods – easy to do when feeling a little nervous at a social outing. Keep your hands full with a glass or napkin and chat more, graze less! - Choose healthier nibbles – avoiding those that are deep fried or cased in pastry which tends to have higher fat content. Stick instead to lean meat or fish such as smoked salmon and low fat dips with fresh vegetables, instead of crisps choose popcorn.
- Enjoy a Christmas drink but choose diet mixers or slim line tonic, light beer or a smaller glass of wine. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Drink water in between rounds and remember the safe upper limit – 14 units for women, 21 units of alcohol for men, per week.
- For Christmas dinner – Turkey is a naturally lean meat – but avoid eating the skin. Fill up on lovely seasonal fresh vegetables, avoid adding too much salt, gravy or butter and keep an eye on portion size.
- Get regularly out for a brisk walk – escaping from the house for some fresh air and exercise with the family will keep mind and body feeling fresher and healthier.
Finally please do not forget our elderly friends and neighbours who may need a visit more than ever at this time of year. For more information see our news archive.
Should any of these issues become too much to cope with please do not hesitate to contact your GP for support.