Every year we end the year in the same way, stuffed with all kinds of food and still hungover from New Year’s Eve or the last holiday meal with friends.
We’re sure that during the holidays, we’ve all indulged a bit, repeating that succulent Christmas Eve dessert, that greasy but tasty Christmas Day meat, those snack sessions filled with mantecados, polvorones, and all sorts of sweets, or those nights of drinks with friends.
So it’s time to get back to healthy habits after the Christmas excesses, and that’s why at Doña Francisquita Catering, we propose a detox plan with some ideas to help you feel lighter and bid farewell to all those holiday feasts. Take note!
BREAKFAST, THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY
Firstly, never skip breakfast! As everyone knows, breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it provides us with all the energy we need to face the day. Did you buy your first Kings’ cake back on December 25th? It’s time to change your mindset, so the first thing to do is get rid of all the leftovers of Christmas sweets to avoid temptation. Take the opportunity to give them to your neighbor, your cousin from the village, or those very sporty people around you.
For this, a glass of fresh orange juice is great to start the day due to its high vitamin C content and fibers, although eating a couple of oranges will satisfy you even more. Also, infusions like green tea will help decrease appetite. Coffee should be taken without sugar, and you should replace it with the sweetener that suits you best, and of course, skimmed milk. You can also switch to eating some whole grain cereals with natural skimmed yogurt and without sugar for a few weeks.
Replace butter with olive oil, a bit of bread with slices of tomato or crushed. Increase the intake of high-fiber foods to regulate bowel function and acidity, your stomach will thank you
MID-MORNING SNACK
The most recommended way to satisfy hunger in the mid-morning is to eat one or two whole pieces of fruit, rich in fiber like oranges, avocado, apple, papaya, pineapple, or banana. Forget about whole grain toasts, rolls, sweets, and anything other than fruit. Don’t forget to drink plenty of liquids to help us stay as full as possible between meals. Don’t forget to drink between 2 and 3 liters of water a day.
MIDDAY… HAPPINESS!
You’ll need it to face a few weeks of a diet low in saturated fats, so avoid fried foods and stews with sauces at all costs. For the most loyal carnivores, it’s best to include the consumption of white meats such as chicken or turkey, increase the consumption of white fish such as hake, monkfish, turbot, cod, halibut, sole, or sea bass. Don’t forget legumes such as lentils or chickpeas. If you were already eating healthily before the holidays, it won’t be difficult to resume this routine.
TIME TO EAT VEGETABLES
If you don’t particularly like vegetables, try having them in broths or purees. Try to cook with methods that require little fat, such as steaming, baking, boiled dishes, etc.
You can consume some monounsaturated fats without overdoing it, such as olive oil, avocado, or nuts, but what you should keep out of your fridge and pantry these days are butter, puff pastry, margarine, cookies, and of course, pastries.
If you were already eating healthily before the holidays, it won’t be difficult to resume this routine.
Incorporate salads with green leafy vegetables that cleanse and detoxify. Cucumber, which contains a lot of water and is rich in fiber, garlic, celery, or artichoke to aid fat digestion.
Replace salt with other spices or herbs to flavor meals and avoid water retention.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS…
Forget about fried foods, greasy or precooked meals, and especially sweets.
FOR AN AFTERNOON SNACK
You can always satisfy your appetite in the late afternoon with some fruit, a skimmed yogurt with whole grain cereals, an infusion, or a sugar-free coffee with skimmed milk.
LIGHT DINNERS
To lose weight, it’s essential that dinner is light. It’s harder to burn, as it’s the last meal of the day, but… NEVER GO TO BED WITHOUT DINNER. We recommend a salad, some steamed vegetables, a vegetable stir-fry, or a French omelet. You can also have some soup or some grilled or boiled fish.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE
If you’re not a regular gym-goer… a brisk walk, a bike ride, climbing stairs instead of taking the elevator. Every little bit counts!
OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION
- DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
- INCREASED INTAKE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
- FOODS HIGH IN FIBER
- LEGUMES
- PHYSICAL EXERCISE
NOT RECOMMENDED
- FATS
- CONSUMPTION OF SALT AND SUGAR
- SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE
- ALCOHOLIC AND CARBONATED BEVERAGES
Before starting any diet, consult with a specialist to see if we can do it without risking our health.
To look beautiful, you have to suffer a little, and although this whole plan may seem sacrificial, it will be worth it, and your body and health will thank you.
