Major points:
- Traditional diets and Neatic alike can be challenging during the holiday season. With a few simple tips, you can navigate the Christmas period more easily with Neatic.
- Prepare as much as possible yourself, so you control the ingredients.
Stay relaxed if things do not go perfectly one day – just start again the next day.
Christmas time means cookie time!
Do you love the holiday season as much as we do? Cozy evenings wrapped in a blanket with hot tea or cocoa, festive gatherings at the Christmas market with friends, and the special feeling of walking down streets lit up with Christmas decorations. And, of course, the scent of pine branches, oranges, and freshly baked cookies!
The Christmas season is a wonderful time for many, but it is also a time when eating habits can go off track. To help you stay relaxed with Neatic during the holiday season, we have gathered 3 tips to guide you through:
Tip 1: Ready, set, bake!
A Christmas season without cookies, candy canes, fudge, gingerbread, fruit cake, and christmas pudding is unthinkable. But Neatic does not expect you to skip them altogether – it is all about balance. Maybe it does not need to be the whole box of gingerbread, no matter how tempting. Take one piece or slice, then store the rest away.
Pay attention to product ingredients while shopping, avoiding those with added flavors or sweeteners.
Baking cookies yourself is a great option. In many recipes, you can reduce the sugar by half without much difference in taste. Be mindful of added flavors in homemade cookies – read recipes carefully and consider replacing or omitting them.
For example, if a recipe calls for lemon flavor, simply use some freshly grated organic lemon zest. Not only can you use the lemon zest for baking, but the lemon itself can be used for a homemade fruit punch. Instead of vanilla flavor, use a real vanilla bean by splitting it and scraping out the seeds.
Need inspiration for homemade holiday cookies? Check out our recipes!
Tip 2: No mulled wine is not an option
The holiday season also means strolling through Christmas markets with friends, enjoying mulled wine or punch, and savoring the festive atmosphere. Neatic’s best tip? Avoid foods that clearly do not fit Neatic principles and choose the best options available!
Before you go, think about which food stalls might offer Neatic-friendly options and suggest going there with your friends. Be mindful that mulled wine and punch often contain added flavors and a lot of sugar. Choose the best alternative – maybe a hot orange juice where you just count the sugar, or have one mulled wine instead of three. The most important thing is to fully enjoy your visit to the Christmas market.
You could also consider cooking and enjoying a meal together at home before heading out to the market to admire the craft and jewelry stalls – this way, you still experience the market atmosphere without standing around in the cold for too long.
For more dining-out ideas, check out this post.
Tip 3: Silent night, delicious night
Now that you have made it through the holiday season, it is time to enjoy Christmas Eve. Whether it is with your close family or the extended family, staying relaxed is key.
To ensure you can enjoy the meal without stress, make sure there are Neatic-friendly foods available. If you are hosting, you control what is served and how the dishes are prepared.
If you are invited to someone else’s home, consider being open about your dietary preferences – they will likely accommodate your needs. You can also contribute a dish to the meal that aligns with Neatic’s principles, avoiding added flavors, sweeteners, and reducing sugar. Who knows, maybe you will even inspire others with your delicious Neatic recipes!
Our most important tip for you: Stay relaxed if things do not go perfectly. Christmas is a special time, and there is room for exceptions. Just start again the next day!