3
min read
If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed and struggling to eat fruits, vegetables or even proper meals because you’re constantly snacking at parties, you’re not alone.
Even as dietitians, busy times of year, like Christmas, are challenging. But here are some tips to support you through the last few weeks of celebrations. Remember, if you’re not able to eat sustainably at the moment, that’s ok. If you can manage it, focusing on one small thing at a time will help any overwhelm.
Practical ways to...
Eat more plants
- When asked to bring a plate, choose a plant-based option. Chances are most people will bring savoury dishes that contain meat, you don’t need to. We have lots of recipes on the Eat Sustainably website, such as a frittata or tempeh bites. This is also a great opportunity to introduce people to new flavours and foods
- Try to always fill your plate with vegetables first, this will leave less room for everything else
- Make your own nutritious dips or mini vegetable muffins
Consume less foods and drinks
- By filling at least half your plate with non-starchy salads and vegetables first, you will fill up on dietary fibre and consume less energy (kilojoules) overall
- Go for sparkling water over a soft drink or juice
- If you drink alcohol, sip slowly and have a water in between
- Try having something nourishing and filling before you go, such as VitaWeat seeded crackers with avocado and pepper, a bowl of muesli with kefir, or some carrot sticks and white bean dip
- It’s ok to say ‘no thank you’ when someone offers you food. Having a nutritious snack before you go will help you do that
- Reach for olives or dried fruit on a cheese board, instead of cheese, crackers or processed meat
- If you want to indulge at dinner (and enjoy it!) have a light lunch in the day, like our watermelon, mint and feta salad
Reduce waste
- Save any leftovers to eat the next day (one less meal to cook!)
- Bring a container to take leftover food home in
- Freeze any leftovers at home
- Drink tap water instead of bottled water
- If you’re asked to bring a plate, remember, everyone is doing the same, so just bring a plate, not a whole platter
- Find out what other people are bringing, there is nothing worse than finding out that everyone has brought along a salad
What to do with ham and turkey leftovers
For those who eat meat, it’s common to end up with huge amounts of ham and turkey at the end of Christmas. Please don't throw it out! Meat produces the most greenhouse gases of all food wasted...
So let's band together and think about what it means to throw meat away, before we mindlessly chuck it in the bin.
Ham leftovers
- Freeze it! Slice it off the bone, and freeze it in slices. It keeps for about 3 months in the freezer
- Slice it and use it in omelettes
- Leftover ham fried rice
- Ham & zucchini fritters
- Ham & potato rostis
- Ham & onion savoury crepes
- Hawaiian pizzas
Turkey leftovers
- Turkey salad
- Turkey omelette
- Turkey, pea & goats cheese frittata
- Turkey and salad sandwich