Reflections on Christmas and New Year eating...
I worked hard on losing weight and getting fitter for most of 2025, so I was looking forward to cutting loose over the Christmas break and gave myself two whole weeks to eat whatever I wanted and to take a break from exercise (apart from walking the dogs; they never take a break!)
I did not need two weeks, that’s the first thing I learned. By the end of the two weeks I had had enough and was very happy to get back to ‘normal’ yesterday. For Christmas ’26 I am planning on only 5 days of debauchery 😈
Dec 24th, 25th and 26th, plus Dec 31st and Jan 1st. That will be more than enough.
What did I truly enjoy and what wasn’t worth it?
Drinks:
Didn’t drink a huge amount but very much enjoyed Champagne on its own and a good quality Cava for home made Bucks Fizz/Mimosas. Did not enjoy the supermarket Bucks Fizz, nor most of the various cocktails (a MOTH variety pack). So more money to spend on Champagne next year 🍾
Snacks:
Pork pies, biscuits, shortbread, cakes, puddings; not really for me anymore (I ate them and was underwhelmed) apart from some supermarket own label ginger nuts which are my emergency biscuits of choice throughout the year anyway when I need something sweet, spicy, and crunchy.
DH likes his Christmas cake and pudding, neither of which I care for, so can happily make/buy them for him and they won’t bother me. Same goes for trifle.
Bought waaaay too much cream and the flavoured creams I bought were quite bitter to me; wouldn’t bother again.
Enjoyed some of the crisps, ate too many though, so will buy less next year and only the small bags so that portions are more sensible.
Loved having various pates on sourdough toast, will definitely keep those on the list, especially smoked mackerel, and pork rillettes.
Sweets and chocolate:
Was soooo looking forward to my Lindt santa but actually found it a bit sickly so don’t think I will bother again (ask me in 11 months!) but I am still over fond of After Eights and Maltesers so they stay on the Christmas shopping list.
Bought too much ice cream, so can easily have much less of that; none of it really hit the spot. There is a very expensive one I love from a local gelato maker so one tub of that is going on the list for next year rather than the ones we bought (though DH will still have his Vienetta! He’s a cheap date).
Meals:
Roast dinners, including beef, turkey, and lamb, were all delicious, if over-large! They can easily be incorporated into my diet whenever I want them, just need to up the green veggies and cut down on the roast potatoes, so they are on the year round menu and will stay on the Christmas menu just with extra roasties and side dishes as the pigs in blankets are essential 😍
Toasted sandwiches were another hit, and again there is no reason I can’t have them year round; I had a toasted corned beef and cheese for brunch one morning that completely hit the spot and it was only 400 calories, so easily incorporated into even a restricted calorie day. Also applies to bacon sandwiches.
Same with what we call ‘eggy soldiers’ in our house! If I can get DH to be less liberal with the butter on the soldiers then these are perfectly fine.
Made a couple of delicious pies with various leftovers. Again, small portions with plenty of veggies can be incorporated into my meal plans. I do love a bit of pastry.
I’ve noted all this in my year round meal planning notebook so that I can remember it all in 11 months. It’s funny that some of the foods you really crave are often a let down once you can have as much of them as you want; proof our tastes do change and it pays to take notice of it. I’ll be better prepared next time.