Nutrition and the festive season
Eating at Christmas.
Our young friends have already started counting down to Christmas and New Year, which are among the loveliest celebrations of the year. Of course, they also bring plenty of tempting foods and festive eating traditions, including all kinds of traditional sweets and countless dishes at festive gatherings. In reality, things are not so daunting if we know where to set our limits and maintain a balanced diet amid it all. The mistaken belief that we can only enjoy these delicious treats at Christmas is what makes us dive into festive feasts without knowing when to stop. Do not ignore your stomach's signals that you are full or let your eyes guide you, because your eyes are always bigger than your stomach. Below, we will look at the nutritional content of Christmas treats and explain how to set limits so that you can maintain a balanced diet, get through the festive season with ease, enjoy a variety of sweets and avoid gaining weight.
Nutritional breakdown of tempting Christmas treats:
Melomakarona (Greek honey biscuits, per 35g biscuit)
• Fat: 8g (mainly from olive oil)
• Key points: Rich in monounsaturated fats from olive oil, they contain honey, cinnamon and orange, which provide antioxidants.
Kourabiedes (Greek butter biscuits, per 40g biscuit)
• Fat: 12g (mainly from butter)
• Key points: Rich in saturated fats from butter, they contain a substantial amount of icing sugar.