It smells a lot like Christmas already, the feverish end-of-year activities and the bright red and white colours associated with the period are everywhere you turn. Christmas is a highly anticipated season of the year across the world because it’s often spent with family and loved ones. It tends to elicit delightful memories of family and friends’ gatherings and the anticipation of another such gathering. It’s a magical moment that brings joy into our lives and an opportunity to take a step back from our busy lives and have a good time.

Celebrating Christmas does not mean we should neglect nutrition. Below are three healthy ways to dine this Christmas:

∙ Bake your chicken and turkey

The most prominent protein foods during Christmas are chicken and turkey. These protein sources are mainly paired with different carbohydrates of choice, especially with rice. One of the healthy ways to enjoy chicken or turkey this Christmas is to bake it in the oven instead of deep frying it. Baking your chicken and turkey means less calories and it helps to retain the flavour.

∙ Feature healthy drinks

During Christmas, we accompany our foods with drinks of our choice. Instead of fizzy drinks this Christmas, we should consider healthy alternatives such as soy yogurt or soy milk. Soy milk and soy yogurt are products of soy beans. Soy beans is super rich in protein, which means we still get our essential nutrients during the festive period.

∙ Portion control

One of the hallmarks of the season is the abundance of foods. The key to remain healthy this season is to avoid eating mindlessly. Portion control is a healthy way to get all your nutrients without overeating. In addition, adopting the healthy eating plate helps you focus on diet quality.

As we enjoy the many wonders of Christmas, we encourage you to eat healthy.

Cecilia Okoro is a graduate of University of Benin and an aspiring writer.