Making Christmas feel special with a restricted diet this year

[Torchout]

I normally love Christmas the food, the drinks, the treats. This year things are going to be so hard. In spring I became seriously ill and am lucky to still be here, but I have to stick to a really strict diet. Small portions of white meat, fish or vegetable protein. Low salt, no additives, no cola ,no dried fruit. I don't really like roasts but I can do Christmas dinner without the sides. No pigs in blankets, no bread sauce, no cranberry sauce. I cant do chocolate either. Im also diabetic so anything fruit based is out.

I also cant drink due to medications.
Usually by now im getting all excited but this year its looking like Christmas day will be a normal day with a very restricted diet. .
Does anyone have any ideas on things I can do you make the day special without going wild. Ive already decided that I'll break my diet for the day at breakfast which is scrambled eggs and smoked salmon as that's usually too much protein and salt.

The plus side of this is that I've gone from obese to overweight

Get a Xmas jigsaw, shift the focus.

If this applies to drinks too, as in you should only drink water you can get an air up bottle; air-up makes your brain perceive scent as taste. All of a sudden, ordinary water tastes like your favourite flavours, without adding anything to it.

Ypu dont say who else you need to cater for but if they're all adults perhaps try and shift the focus of the day a bit? If you really want to break your diet, make it a brunch so your food highlight isn't over by 9am. Have your favourite 'allowed' meal for supper or perhaps if you can have unlimited veg do a lovely crudite shareing platter with whatever dip works for you, so everyone is eating together. Add some pigs in blankets if they want them!

If you do have kids perhaps go with their favourite meal so you dont feel like you're watching people eat what you would like. Make your own pizza (with a base that works for you for yours) or cauliflower cheese (m&s vegan one might be ok for you?) and roasted veg

I have had many terrible christmas food experiences (vegetarian!) and although it sometimes make me grumpy its really not the main bit of the day, stretch present giving for longer, watch a great film or binge a series, do a jigsaw, treat yourself to something new so you feel fabulous, enjoy a candlelit bubble bath or go for a winter walk, whatever your favourite things to do are.