At Christmas we’re often surrounded by so much delicious food and drink…festive fries, boxes of chocolates and cheeseboards galore! You can absolutely still enjoy the festive period without overdoing it. 

A festive graphic with a red background and holiday-themed decorations. On the left, there is a photo of a wooden board arranged with a healthy Christmas graze selection, including grapes, cheese cubes, breadsticks, crackers, and vegetables, styled in a tree shape. Text on the image reads: “A Healthier Holiday Season!” and “Plus: How to Make a Healthier Christmas Graze Board.” There is a QR code and a red button labeled “Watch Now.” Logos for Health and Social Care and the Public Health Agency are at the bottom

Some tips to try:

• Realistic – trying to make healthier choices 80% of the time is more realistic and allows space for enjoying some of your favourite festive foods.
• Usual routine – stick to your usual eating and activity routines when you can.
• Drink plenty of water – stay well hydrated by drinking 6-8 glasses of fluid daily.
• Outside – research shows that just 5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation so why not try to fit in some lunchtime steps.
• Limit alcohol – if you drink alcohol try to stick within the limits of 14 units per week with a few alcohol-free days each week.
• Portion control – it’s totally OK to enjoy your favourite festive treats but just think about how much and how often you’re having them. For example, 3 chocolates = ~130 calories, 10 sweets = ~430 calories – that’s a difference of 300 calories!
• Habit stack – add some healthy habits onto things you already do. For example, do a few squats while you wait for the kettle to boil or add an extra piece of fruit as a snack.

Find out more top tips from our Public Health Dietitians in this short video.

Scan the QR code or click the link to watch: https://youtu.be/u_8Upqynyq4?si=EZQekFLF1Q_okFZM

Tis’ the Season for Using Your Slow Cooker!

Illustration of a white plate on a purple background with a fork on the left and a knife on the right. Inside the plate, there is a simple graphic of a person standing next to a slow cooker on a counter. Text on the plate reads: “Easy Slow Cooking.” At the bottom are three logos: HSC Public Health Agency, Public Health Dietitians Group Northern Ireland, and HSC Health and Social Care

Slow cooking has become a popular cooking method due to its minimal effort and energy-savings. Find out our top tips for making the most of your slow cooker in this short video.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/J5nQW9LSknQ

Winter Warmer Recipes

As temperatures continue to cool, we look to our food to heat us up.  Our YouTube channel has simple step-by-step recipe videos for lots of easy and tasty meals.

Slow Cooker Potato & Leek Soup https://youtu.be/Xa3aZJHS7i0?si=wSt9NaVF6o3c-VRH

Chicken Curry https://youtu.be/WSpPYWlM50Q?si=zmiTv9B7T0W1cCG_

Fish Pie https://youtu.be/NQ1JYvZhZtU?si=n3BjUsfJ-4VSb4hz

There are lots more recipes on our YouTube channel so check it out if you are looking for tasty but healthy dinner inspiration on the run up to Christmas!

Promotional graphic with a blue background encouraging viewers to subscribe on YouTube to “Public Health Dietitians.” At the center, a hand holds a smartphone displaying a QR code with the text “SCAN ME” and a YouTube logo above it. On the left, two circular images show a slow cooker and a bowl of soup with the caption “Healthy Recipe Videos.” On the right, two circular images show a group eating together and a platter of fresh fruits and vegetables arranged in a heart shape, with the caption “Free Nutrition Webinars.” At the bottom are logos for HSC Health and Social Care, Public Health Dietitians Group Northern Ireland, and HSC Public Health Agency.