Today I dedicate myself to the Christmas holidays: December has already begun with the first sgarri, the invitations to dinner out, etc., in which I managed not to gain weight by making up for the following meals.

Usually after Christmas, New Year and Epiphany I take a kilo, which I remedy immediately.
More than a matter of calories, to weigh on our scales are the laden meals with several courses, the mix of alcohol and a digestion engulfed by dishes that are not exactly light.

I have always noticed this: I do not exceed 4 thousand calories of festive sgarro, but I gain weight as if I had eaten ten thousand. Probably, the answer lies in the excessive volume of meals, which involves a certain insulin and glycemic load, so that, calories or not, it puts on some fat.

Usually just be more careful and the problem is solved.
Here’s what I do to limit the damage.

CORRECT FEEDING AT CHRISTMAS

• MEALS…

• Drink between meals.

  Initially we will have greater water retention: but if I eat a larger volume of food, I need more water to ensure regularity.

• Avoid these combinations.

  Pasta more meat, dairy products more meat.
  Dairy and meat increase the insulin index of the carbohydrate meal.
  Good at meal with fish. We also avoid bread, bread sticks, croutons, chips if we have already eaten pasta.

• Hearty sweets? No to dinner.
  

  At dinner we try not to end in style by eating too many sweets, which we can reserve on Christmas morning instead. Breakfast like a king on the eve, salty party on the 24th, with a symbolic slice of panettone or pandoro just to honor the midnight toast and an eye to containing carbohydrates.
  Small plate of pasta if you know there is also dessert. See also: light sweets for Christmas. 

• Fruit after meal? No.
  

  You have to eat fruit. But away from meals.

• Frequent meals
  

  Better to avoid fasting for hours and then binge eating. At lunch on December 24th I eat low-sugar fruit and vegetables, I never fast.

• Dry wine and few bubbles
  

  We focus on dry sparkling wine after dinner. Yes to brut, no to sweet sparkling wine. Let’s avoid the liqueurs for a taste. We avoid sparkling water (not digestible) and sparkling wines.

• Raw vegetable based appetizers.
  

  If there are also pickles or a pickle jar, they are fine, but it is better to eat raw vegetables as much as possible, such as fennel, cucumbers, raw carrots. They are a panacea for heavy meals.

• Pasta al dente, egg pasta or stuffed
  

  Don’t eat the risotto, listen to me. Better two thin cappelletti, an egg tagliatella, some gnocchi with a fatty sauce. It is not madness, it is the lowest glycemic index. In the same way we say no to the potato side dish together with the fish, preferring the salad.

• Yes to these foods at Christmas.
  

  Smoked salmon, dried fruit, exotic fruit between meals, herring or anchovies or eel, shellfish, lumpfish roe. All of these foods are healthy and satisfy our palate.

• Beware of salt
  

  Don’t put the nineties load on it by climbing mercilessly. A lot of food already means a lot of salt even when you eat normally.

• Real food, which is good for you
  

  At Christmas we focus on homemade, not on food bought.
  We avoid mayonnaise, frozen foods, sauces and ready-made preparations.

• … AND THE TRICKS FOR ENAMELING THEM

  Walking : Have you eaten too much?
  Offer a nice walk around the city dressed up for the party. Walk. It’s cold? Well, better.

  Red and small plates: red plates for appetizers and every possible course. It works: you eat less.
  Spices, smells, incense, scented candles: if you cook and invite you to dinner, put around good scented candles, for example with citrus fruits, or incense, or spice your dishes with ginger, pepper, chilli. You will eat less.