Tis’ the season to go jogging,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Or is it?
Let’s be realistic, when holidays happen, we tend to swop burpees for beers and that’s okay. Balance is healthy. Investing in rest is healthy. Seeing family and friends is healthy. When approached the right way, holidays have the potential to improve your health. The only thing you need to be mindful of is excess.
So what’s the secret recipe to help ensure you don’t lose all your hard-earned gains?
We like to take this approach. Simple:
💧 Stay hydrated – aim for at least 2L of water per day.
🥕 Having dinner with friends or fam? Offer to make the salad. That way, you know there’ll be veggies available.
🍗 Don’t skip a meal. This leads to unwanted snacking and cravings.
🙌 Remember portion control. Wait before rushing for seconds.
🥂 Avoid or limit your alcohol intake as much as possible.
👟 Get in some exercise with your loved ones. It doesn’t need to be a gym sesh, it can be a game outside in the summer sun or going for a swim in the sea.
😌 Slow down and relax (let your body recover).
🥰 Most importantly, enjoy the time with your nearest and dearest!
Now if you’re in charge of whipping up a festive family lunch and find yourself wondering how to make healthy food that’s still fezzy, we’ve got your back…
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach and Cranberries.
Ingredients:
900g chicken breasts boneless & skinless
142g Goats cheese/feta/cottage cheese cut into 6 long slices
1 small onion minced
1 large garlic clove minced
2 tsp coconut or olive oil divided
170g spinach chopped
1/2 cup cranberries dried
1/2 tsp thyme dried
1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
Ground black pepper to taste
Method:
1. Cut chicken into 6 tenders. Slice each tender lengthwise in the middle but not through. Open flat and tenderize a bit. Set aside.
2. Preheat a large non-stick skillet on low-medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add garlic and onion, saute until translucent, stirring occasionally. Add spinach, cranberries, thyme, salt and pepper; saute for another minute. Remove from heat.
3. Preheat oven to 185 degrees C. Divide spinach mixture into 6 piles. In the middle of a flat open chicken tender, place some cheese and 1/6th spinach stuffing next to it. Fold in half, tuck in the ends (if possible) and wrap tightly with kitchen twine. Repeat with remaining chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Return the skillet to medium heat and swirl the remaining 1 tsp of oil. Add stuffed chicken and sear for about 3 minutes per side. If your skillet is oven-proof (we use a Green Pan) cover it or transfer chicken to a baking dish (and cover), and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let chicken stand 5 minutes and remove the twine. Serve hot with mash spooning juices on top
5. Serve with sauce and side.
Remember, too much of a good thing quickly becomes bad and before you know it, you’re kicking off the New Year with a bunch of regrets and big resolutions to be better. And considering the year we’ve all had, starting off 2022 by beating yourself up is not the intention you want to set.
Slow down. Stay mindful. Keep moving. Stay motivated. At the end of the day, it’s as easy as you make your mind up to be.
Happy hols!