Dietician on the healthy snacks to eat this Christmas season to avoid stress
Christmas certainly brings a lot of joy, but with growing to-do lists, the festive season can also be stressful.
We've already learnt that a good declutter can help bring an element of calm to proceedings, but turns out your diet can have a pretty major role to play in having a stress-less Yuletide.
Of course, during these busy pre-Christmas days when you get a hunger pang, it's easy to reach for what you have to hand, but actually, these snacks of convenience can fuel the festive frazzle.
Thankfully, there are some simple seasonal switch-ups that not only satisfy your appetite but could also help soothe the stress.
"There’s absolutely nothing wrong with indulging a bit over the festive season. It’s a time to eat, drink and be merry but, in moderation," explains Lola Biggs, registered dietician at natural health supplement brand Together Health.
"Sometimes being super busy, overly stressed, and tired can lead us to reach for the wrong foods like salty and sugary snacks. But some quick, simple, and healthier snacks can give you energy and keep stress levels at bay."
Snacks to stave off seasonal stress
1. DIY trail mix
Seeds, nuts, and dried fruits are a great healthy snack that can also help battle burnout.
"Nuts contain fibre and protein as well as stress-busting nutrients such as iron and some B vitamins," explains Biggs. "Just make sure you are choosing the unsalted variety."
Biggs suggests opting to throw in some pumpkin seeds as these are rich in magnesium, which is important for a healthy nervous system.
"You can also sprinkle a few small pieces of good quality, dark chocolate in to satisfy that sweet tooth craving," she adds. "Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which can help reduce stress hormones in the body."
2. Blueberries
High in flavonoid antioxidants that have powerful anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, blueberries are brilliant for all-around health but have also been shown to help fight cortisol-induced inflammation.
"Toss in a handful into your Greek yoghurt pot and top with nuts and seeds for a quick tasty and healthy snack," Biggs adds.
3. Veggies with green dip
Scooch over guacamole there's another festive dip on the block that could help combat seasonal stress. "All you need is a tin of artichoke hearts, a small handful of pine nuts, a handful of baby spinach, the juice of half a lemon, a glug of olive oil, salt, and pepper," explains Biggs. "Then whiz up and keep in the fridge for any snack attacks!"
Biggs suggests serving your dip with some sticks of cucumber, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. "Red bell peppers are high in both polyphenols and carotenoids – two stress fighters," she explains.
4. Chickpeas
These might not be the first thing you think of, but they are a delicious protein-packed snack. "Full of stress-fighting vitamins and minerals including zinc, manganese, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and B vitamins chickpeas are also rich in L-tryptophan," Biggs says. "Your body needs this to produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters. They also have a low glycemic index, meaning your body absorbs and digests them slowly."
A great, healthier alternative to salty crisps and nuts, Biggs suggests roasting some in the oven with a little olive oil and spices. "I like to use smoked paprika and cumin," she adds.
5. Kale crisps/chips
Crunchy, satisfying but also nutritious. "Take your kale, sprinkle with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and then roast in the oven on a baking tray or in the air fryer until crispy," Biggs recommends.
You can do the same thing with beetroot and sweet potato. "Not only is beetroot good for our physical health, but it can also help with reducing stress and anxiety. Just thinly slice and bake," Biggs adds.
6. Date and nut snowballs
According to Biggs, these little round bites are healthy and highly addictive. "Just blitz up some dried fruits, nuts, seeds, pitted dates, and good quality nut butter into a sticky dough-like texture," she suggests. "Then make small balls in your hands, set in the fridge for 20 minutes, then roll them in shredded toasted coconut."
Biggs says dates are a natural sweetener that are high in fibre and can slow down your digestion and help prevent blood sugar levels from spiking too high. "Coconut is high in antioxidants and gives a lovely nutty taste," she adds.
Read more on gut health:
The gut health benefits of flaxseeds, and how they could reduce breast cancer risk (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Gut health: Foods to eat and avoid to improve your wellbeing (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Top tips for keeping gut health in check on holiday (Cover Media, 3-min read)
Do you have ‘winter gut lag’? How the change in weather can negatively impact your gut (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
