Contents:

• Be strategic with your holiday celebrations
• Pay attention to stress
• Move up!
• Alcohol? Only in moderation
• Think about health and safety at home
• Wash your hands

The vast majority of Christmas wishes begin with the words "Health, happiness..." We may wish for a healthy Christmas, but we rarely try to achieve it. On the contrary: We often associate Christmas with overeating and laziness, and often with a lot of stress—so much so that various surveys regularly rank the holiday as one of the biggest triggers of nervousness and anxiety.

The holidays should be a time of peace, joy, and, for those who desire it, serene reflection, but instead we've turned it into a frenzy of shopping, cleaning, and cooking (and, of course, eating). How can you escape this trap and actually have a happy, healthy, and peaceful Christmas?

Be strategic with your holiday celebrations

Although traditional Christmas Eve dishes are relatively light during Lent, and therefore—at least in theory—we compensate for this with large portions. You don't have to give up anything, it's Christmas, but try to control portions: simply try each of the twelve dishes; you don't have to eat a whole portion of each! And if you can't limit yourself, avoid carbohydrate-rich "fillers" ( potatoes , pasta , bread ) and opt for protein-rich components of dishes, especially fish and legume dishes. You'll consume fewer empty calories.

Pay attention to stress

Nerves can be overwhelming, especially if you're hosting a large family gathering. If you feel the stress getting the better of you, take a break and rest. And before you say you don't have time to rest because you're baking dumplings/vacuuming the floor behind the fridge/ baking gingerbread /decorating the Christmas tree, remember that your loved ones will surely prefer your good mood to all of those things!

Move up!

A Christmas walk is a lovely tradition: Perhaps it's worth reviving? Many indications suggest that a toboggan ride will be rather unrealistic this year, but you can always afford a nice walk.

Alcohol? Only in moderation

It's sad, but the holiday season inevitably brings with it an increase in traffic accidents. If you're driving, don't drink—and don't encourage other drivers to drink.

Think about health and safety at home

A healthy Christmas isn't just about exercise and a sensible diet: you also have to be careful of accidents! Most of them happen at home, so it's worth being extra careful here. Be especially careful with the open flames we love so much at this time of year! Let's also be vigilant around children, especially the little ones: Christmas spirit, unusual decorations (Christmas tree!), or new toys that haven't been tested by parents can pose potential dangers.

Wash your hands

Not very Christmassy advice? On the other hand! At this time of year, when we're constantly preparing food, hugging our loved ones, or wishing our friends near and far, bacteria and viruses feel absolutely fantastic: especially since it's the cold season! By washing your hands frequently, you reduce the spread of germs. No one wants to sneeze at the Christmas Eve table...

Difficult? Sometimes. Complicated? Absolutely! It really doesn't take much to make your "healthy, happy" wishes come true. And that's why we'd like to wish you this Christmas: healthy, happy, and joyful. And, of course, a fantastic New Year.