The Nutritionist’s Guide to the Silly Season

Laura here, your resident holistic nutritionist.

Before we dive in, the very first thing I want to say - is be GENTLE with yourself this holiday season.

There’s the stress, sugar and alcohol that gets consumed over this time, but we don’t need GUILT on top of that. If it happens, it happens! Let it go and move on the next meal or drink as an opportunity to nourish.

Lose the ‘all or nothing’ mindset

I actually think that we need to lose this mindset altogether but we especially need to lose it at this time of the year!

Have some friends over, or go out, and you end up over-drinking and over-eating? Don’t worry! Socialising and enjoying life is part of being healthy. So get up the next morning, have your apple cider vinegar or lemon in warm water and go for a walk! It’s a new day, and a new opportunity to nourish yourself.

In a rush of Christmas shopping, you forget to have breakfast and have a doughnut/biscuit/scone on the run and too many coffees? No drama! Cook up some roast veggies and some good quality steak and sit down for a big nourishing salad that evening (taking some slow, deep belly breaths prior to eating will be great for digestion on a busy day!). Optional - take some extra Vitamin C to help clear cortisol during day.

Kids birthday party full of sugar and refined carbohydrates?! Don’t stress. It’s life! Consider fasting through dinner and starting the next day with a nutritional breakfast.

Go a full week without doing exercise?! It’s all good as you can always get up and do a yoga class tomorrow! (If you’re keen for a home yoga flow - send me a message as I have a few on YouTube).

Choose quality

This is something I am very discerning about in general but at this time of year, it really comes into play.

Even if you’re going to eat foods that are not going to serve you, choose wisely. Choose high quality cheese, salmon, salamis from the the nibbles board. Enjoy your friend’s home made cake/baking instead of the store bought stuff at your office morning tea.

And if you do consume these foods - ENJOY them.

Focus on high quality protein + fat

It’s harder to over consume foods high in protein and fat - so ensure you’re getting enough good quality protein and fat in alongside carbohydrates.

Protein and fat also help to keep mood, energy and hormones at stable levels...!

From the nibbles table - choose salmon, cheese, salami, hummus.

At the BBQ - steak, sausages, chicken, tofu, tempeh.

Hungry on the go? Choose a smoothie with protein powder (Tank is all over the place these days).

Hangover support - load up on b-vitamins

I’m always a proponent of getting nutrients from food, but let’s be honest - it’s hard to get enough green leafy veggies in at the best of times!

Greens are our best source of the vital b-vitamins and we need adequate levels of b-vitmains in particular in order for our liver to be able detoxify alcohol (and all other toxins).  When we’re stressed, we also have a higher demand for b-vitamins so this time of year means there’s two big reasons to load up on extra b-vitamins.

I highly recommend supplementation and my recommendation is the BePure One - let me know if you’d like me to order this for you or you can grab direct from their website.

If you’re interested in diving into your health and wellness in a one-on-one capacity with me next year - get in touch and let’s have a chat in the New Year 🔥

Take 2024 by the balls