The holidays without gaining 15 kg?

Hello Burger Fans.

We can’t deny it: the garlands are out, Christmas markets are sprouting everywhere, the shops are packed… apart from the spring temperatures, everything tells us that Christmas is fast approaching... Yippee!

Christmas means gifts, good times with family and… enormous meals.

So how do you survive the marathon of Christmas Eve dinners without ending up stuffed like a turkey? We’re giving you a few “diet” tips, because yes, fat is life at The Huggy’s Bar, but health matters too!

How to avoid total carnage (and incidentally a liver crisis)?

Starting today, eat healthily and go on a small detox. Avoid anything that’s particularly rich in fat: cold cuts, aged cheeses, pastries, sauces rich in butter or oil like mayonnaise. Favour salads, raw vegetables and other cooked vegetables.

Get some energy: go to bed early so you’ll be in top form to face meals at granny’s or the in‑laws’. When you’re tired, you tolerate excess even less well.

Our advantage this year: the weather. Make the most of it to go for a walk, run or do other outdoor sports (Yes you over there, no excuses, it’s still over 10°, so put on your trainers and get outside!). Otherwise, if you’re chilly, there’s always this:

In short, a quadruple Christmas Eve, followed by a boozy New Year’s Eve, finishing off with a good old sauerkraut on New Year’s Day, calls for some serious preparation; spare your poor bodies between now and then.

Okay we love to eat well, but how can you enjoy typical dishes without (too) much excess?

Apéro: Favour crudité dips instead of chips and peanuts. Okay it’s less funky, but it will help you face the meal without already being as greasy as little loukoums.

Starter: Favour oysters over foie gras; it’s far healthier! Also avoid smoked salmon, which is still very fatty. By the way, accompany shellfish (lobsters, oysters, crayfish, etc.) with light cream or yoghurt dressings instead of the traditional triplet: tartare / cocktail / mayonnaise.

Main course: Favour seasonal vegetables (broccoli, wild mushrooms, Swiss chard, carrots, etc.) as a side instead of starches and especially fried accompaniments. Also favour white meats (turkey, chicken, capon, etc.) over red meats and game.

Did you know?
Some spices and condiments, such as sage, tarragon, coriander or juniper berries, have properties that aid digestion. Don’t hesitate to add them to your dishes.

Dessert: Yule logs, often with buttercream, are real calorie bombs. Instead, go for an iced dessert.

Alcohol: Deadly anyway, there’s nothing you can do about that. Try to consume it in moderation, as much as possible.

And of course, the king of tips: drink looooooots of water on the day itself, but also – and above all – the next day to help your bodies recover from their emotions.

There you go, obviously “everything that’s good is bad”… sniff sniff… But we hope you survive the holidays, and above all: make the most of these wonderful moments with your family and treat yourself, but without too much abuse.

Enjoy your meal!