It’s that time of year again where we feel that we have shopped till we dropped, celebrated till we could no more and let’s face it indulged in too much alcohol, too much fat and too much sugar for too long!
So how do we re-energise ourselves and regain that lost vitality and get back into shape? Here are a few tips to get you started in the new year:
1. Cool off and hit the pool
Whether it’s lap swimming, water aerobics, or just splashing about, you’ll feel refreshed and your body will start to come alive again as well as utilising some of those recently gained fat stores. The perfect antidote to overindulgence.
2. Luscious summer fruits
Be tempted by luscious summer fruit, low in kilojoules and bursting with vitamins, minerals and other phyto nutrients. Serve platters of mangoes, melons, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and kiwi fruit. Blend with fat-free fruit yogurt for a summer sorbet treat, or add milk or soy and whiz for an icy cold drink. Chunks of fresh fruit on skewers, lightly barbecued, make a delicious dessert.
3. Keep it light and bite size
Don’t eat large meals or high fat snacks like chips. Serve bite size nibbles like smoked salmon slices rolled up with a little Greek style yogurt on top of sliced cucumber. Circles of pumpernickel rye bread topped with prawns and avocado or freshly shucked oysters with a squeeze of lemon.
4. Focus on salads at night
Dine on salads in the evenings so you’re not sleeping on an overfull stomach. Try an array of different lettuce varieties, slices of turkey breast (low in fat, but tender), lightly steamed asparagus, spring onions, avocado and mango slices or baby spinach leaves topped with cherry tomatoes, snow peas, cucumber chunks, thin slices of super lean beef, tossed with a little chilli, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
5. Think healthy BBQ seafood meals
Spark up the barbie and cook some delicious prawn skewers. Or try salmon or blue eye cutlets (cook on Glad Bake or wrap as parcels. This results in no added fat, seafood that doesn’t stick, and individual meals can be made to suit different tastes – like no chilli for the kids. If cooked on a naked flame, wrap the paper parcel in foil.
6. In the raw
Too hot to cook? Raw vegetables are crisp and crunchy in a salad, with a fruit yogurt dip or on the side with canned tuna or salmon mixed with natural yogurt and a squeeze of lime juice with freshly ground pepper.
7. Alcohol-free days
Have a few alcohol-free days each week, or if you’ve really overindulged, make the entire week alcohol-free. Get into anti-oxidant rich lycopene charged, tomato juice with all the condiments or a cranberry spritzer (cranberry juice and sparkling mineral water) to help flush toxins through.
8. Start counting
How many different foods do you eat each day? Definitely not enough! Variety will give your body the array of vitamins and minerals and other anti-oxidants it craves. Aim to at least double your choices.
9. Go grains
Whether you start the day with a healthy wholegrain cereal, make a wholegrain wrap sandwich for lunch or serve a grain-based salad such as tabouli or brown rice and corn with dinner, grain foods help your body stay healthy, energised and ward off major diseases.
10. Do drink the water
In summer heat, you need plenty of water to help your body flush out all the waste products and keep you well hydrated. Make sure you’re drinking enough.
11. Keep food clean
Try to eat foods that have not been adulterated with too many preservatives, colourings, artificial flavours and other additives. Prepare as much as you can yourself using the freshest of ingredients.
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