How to enjoy Christmas lunch
A traditional northern hemisphere Christmas banquet is likely to feature a huge roasted and stuffed bird, lots of stodgy veggies and side dishes, plenty of heavy creams and a variety of warmed, augmented alcoholic brews. On this side of the globe, thanks to the warm weather, our Christmas cuisine is a bit more plate-on-the-lap friendly. Still, that doesn’t preclude many of us from over-indulging and spending Christmas evening slumped in a chair, unbuckled and unzipped, advising those we love not to venture downwind from where we sit.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Just take a few simple precautions, be sensible, and you can have your Christmas cake and eat it without fear of throwing it up. The following tips are a good general guide to how you should always approach big meals.
Firstly, rather obviously, have a light breakfast and try to eat early so that it is fully digested by lunchtime. Try not to have too many appetisers before lunch, and don’t eat heavy, rich, spicy hors d’oeuvres. Don’t drink too much either, especially alcohol or carbonated drinks. A glass of tap water about half an hour before you eat should prime your stomach for the ensuing feast.
When it comes to drinking with your meal, most experts agree that a plain, room-temperature glass of water is the best thing. You should sip the water occasionally during the meal, not take gulps. If you have no intention of drinking water at Christmas lunch (or ever), then at least apply the same principle – small, intermittent sips. Choose a drink that won’t overpower the flavours of the food – unless that cousin who can’t cook is doing Christmas lunch this year.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when presented with a magnificently spread table, a buffet or other all-you-can-eat situation is that they take that invitation too literally and try to eat all they can. No. Be selective. Compile your meal so that the elements complement each other and you have a nice balance. Honeyed ham with a side of lamb kebabs and garlic prawns is not an harmonious plate.
Eat slowly, take small bites, chew thoroughly, swallow, pause. Repeat. You might like to have brief conversations between mouthfuls – unless you’re sitting next to someone’s awkward new partner or that uncle who keeps trying to identify every single ingredient in everything he eats.
A quick siesta or a reclined rest after a heavy meal is actually quite beneficial. It is said that resting on your left-hand side can aid with digestion as that is the direction in which the stomach empties into the large intestine. (Too much information?)
A short stroll after your rest is also a good idea, not just for avoiding playing charades, but for getting oxygen back into your system and reducing blood sugar levels. Make sure you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
If you want to eat, drink and be merry this Christmas, do all in moderation.
Good tidings.
