AVOIDING SEASONAL MELTDOWNS

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Don't let this be you!!

What with the cost of living crisis, Ukraine and threatened blackouts, meltdowns are a threat to domestic life.  But  planning and preparation make life a lot easier.   

From 67goingon50's Christmas Archive, the following practical advice will help keep minds and bodies in your household in good nick.

PLANNING HELPS

• 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

1.  GET THE FAMILY INVOLVED 

• 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

1. 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) opening 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. (made and frozen earlier in the month or from supermarket)

• Find some willing competent kitchen helpers for salad prep, last-minute chores and service, if needed 

• 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.  It will be 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; overindulging will affect your mood and body.

67 believes Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve/Day are sacrosanct, in that everyone should 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.  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
• take it easy 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.  Take the kids for a 20-minute walk every day, even its a bit rainy.  

4.  REDUCE KIDS' SUGARY FIZZY DRINKS

Kids and sugary drinks don't do well; steering them toward flavoured waters will save a lot of angst & demanding behaviour. See this post's Healthy Festive Drinks for Adults & kids.

5. STOCK UP THE STORE CUPBOARD

You might not want to bother with these extras, having stocked up on Blackout stores.  But just in case, you could consider these cupboard recommendations for quick meals and satisfying snacks. 

Vegan Egg-free Noodles

Chinese  noodles (eg. egg, rice vermicelli, sweet potato, dieters' delight green bean starch) are super-fast and make ever-so easy Almost Instant Stir-fries.  Soak in very hot or boiling water 5 mins; rinse in cold water, drain 

Available in Chinatowns but basic noodles are in most supermarkets.

• Extra eggs (if you can find them) make quick canapes (e.g. Tuna Devilled Eggs), filled omelettes and quiches 
• Inexpensive bags of apples or pears turn into terrific crumbles with just flour, fat and sugar
• Wallet-friendly Pineapple makes wonderful cakes, fruit sauces for ice cream, fruit salads or on their own; prices are still (11/22) pretty good 
• Ditto: Pomelo, now in many supermarkets but best out of Chinatowns
• Rice cooked according to packet instructions (or see Foolproof Brown Rice) can be made in advance.  Cool by spreading out on a large tray, leave an hour, refrigerate.  Use within 3 days OR freeze in family size portions; defrost overnight before needed
• Pasta, cooked, drained, cooled and sprinkled with olive oil to prevent clumping, will keep well, covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days (incl cooking day)
• Small sachets of mixed spices reflecting exotic cuisines will instantly pep up cooked potatoes and veg plus stews and casseroles
• A big bowl of fresh fruit, permanently replaced, will reduce overindulgence in sugar 
• Flour, sugar & butter plus baking powder are useful for when tweenagers get the hungries: hot breads like waffles, pancakes, instant bagels and fluffy breakfast buns (all in the blog) are so easy, older kids can make them
• Use up potatoes with leftover bacon, cheese, yoghurt & mayo for low-fat Double Baked (Loaded) Potatoes -- more than a snack not quite a meal
• Onions, carrots and celery are  the foundation for any soup with raw or cooked veg (or both)

  

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.