PLANNING HELPS
Life on Christmas Day is so much easier if you plan ahead. Here are a few tips for avoiding meltdowns on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including
- make Christmas Eve the day everyone gets involved in next day's preparations
- be prepared for meltdowns
- reduce the risk of meltdowns (including cutting out sugary fizzy drinks)
- maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the season
- Warn everyone they will have to help prepare the meal on Christmas Eve, starting in the morning
- On Christmas Eve MORNING, make a lovely breakfast of prep-ahead no- knead soft or cinammon rolls, with hot chocolate & marshmallows for the kids and Irish coffee for adults. You will need lots of help this day and need to be in everyone's good books or they may resent being asked to help. On the other hand, you could just threaten them -- get involved or no Christmas din-dins!
- Christmas Eve day is vegetable prep day; peel or clean carrots, parsnips & potatoes, remove tough outer leaves from sprouts - quarter or shred as per your recipe. Chop or quarter carrots & parsnips if not leaving whole, oil & season and bag up dry. Bag up sprouts
- If you like, start roasties today; par-boil potatoes 8 mins max, drain and shake to rough up the edges. Cool & refrigerate. See Jaimie's Roasties
- Set the table
- Tidy
2. CHRISTMAS DAY
- First thing after you get up, make a big jug of No-Added-Sugar Breakfast Smoothies (with oatmeal & nuts) to keep everyone going - especially the Commander-in-Chief. Drink a small glass of this before you do anything else, even before coffee! Dilute for kids.
- Don't bother with a big-deal breakfast - everyone will be too excited. After (or in some households, before) presents, a small bowl of granola porridge or a bit of toast might be in order. If lunch is later than 1 pm, provide a few cheese straws, sausage rolls, mince pies, etc.
- Find some willing competent kitchen helpers for salad prep, last-minute chores and service, if necessary
- Have on hand a large bottle of Rescue Remedy (most chemists and health food shops) for tears, tantrums, arguments, anxieties or general sulks - whatever the age of the sufferer
- If there's room, set aside a space in the house for tears, tantrums, arguments...see above, a kind of trauma room. If you're lucky it won't be needed and adults will sneak into it for quiet 'me' time
- It's ok on Christmas Day to slump in front of the telly or play games after the Christmas meal but on Boxing Day, fit in a good long walk - at least 45 mins to an hour.
- Have a read of this guide from the Daily Telegraph: Family Christmas without a breakdown
3. STICKING TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
During the Festive season, eating healthily can be a struggle; that will affect your mood and your body.
67 believes Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve/Day are sacrosanct. Just relax and indulge; be disciplined if you want to, but not too much.
The rest of the time, try to stay as close as possible to your eating plans. Always remember portion control and discipline:
- if you've stopped tasting it, stop eating it
- if you're overdoing it, replace a meal or two with Broth or Granola Porridge.
- eat as much salad, vegetables and fruit as you can
- cut back on meat and white carbs
- if you've eaten something dodgy or are feeling bilious, try a cup of very weak Jasmine tea with a small knob of fresh ginger. A homeopathic remedy called Nux Vomica 30 can provide relief for indigestion, diahrroea and general gut unease. (Buy before festivities from Boots or homeopathic pharmacies like Helios in Covent Garden or Ainsworth, off Marylebone High Street. Ask for clear instructions on use.)
- Don't forget your Exercise Programme, even if it's only a walk!
4. REDUCE KIDS' SUGARY FIZZY DRINKS
Kids and sugary drinks don't do well and steering them toward flavoured waters will save a lot of angst & demanding behaviour. Try these...
Half Organic Fruit Juice; Half carbonated water with mint leaves as decoration (no more than one a day)
Flavoured waters From Jamie Oliver
(from Everyday Super Food (Michael Joseph £18.20)
The Dish, The Times, 1 Nov 2105)
The following combinations are steeped in a jug of water and ice, and refrigerated for at least three hours.
Cucumber, Apple & Mint
Add one finely sliced apple; strips of cucumber and a few fresh mint leaves.
Strawberry
Add half a dozen sliced strawberries
St Clements
Add Sliced oranges and lemons
Watermelon & Basil
Add a peeled, chopped wedge of watermelon, bashing the fruit to release flavours. Add a squeeze of lime.
See also:
DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Any information not sourced to a second party is the copyright of the blogger.
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