Wondering how to eat healthy for your hormones over the holidays?
At all life stages, balancing our hormones is key to good health – and nutrition plays a huge role in supporting that! But with Christmas around the corner, maybe you’re worried that healthy eating has to go out the window with the holidays?
Well, never fear, there are plenty of ways to have a delicious Christmas without compromising on nutritious value. We may not be Jamie Oliver, but we have managed to round up the ten best holiday recipes that tick every box – festive, tasty and great for your hormone health.
Healthy holiday starter recipes
Crudite vegetable wreath
What’s better than a gorgeous wreath on your front door? A gorgeous wreath on your dining table! This recipe could have made it into our top ten list for presentation alone, but the combination of broccoli, curly kale and Brussel sprouts means it is jam-packed with magnesium, which supports healthy levels of oestrogen and testosterone.
Asparagus and smoked salmon bundles
One of the best ways to avoid the dreaded Christmas bloat is to go light on your starter. Asparagus and salmon have always been a favoured combination for appetisers, but did you know it’s also a fertility-boosting team? Asparagus is a great source of magnesium and iron and the essential nutrients present in the vegetable help prevent depression and fatigue – great if you struggle with PMS or are navigating the perimenopause. Salmon contains omega-3 and Vitamin D which are great for fertility but also incredibly helpful if you are going through perimenopause. Omega 3 is thought to help with hot flushes and osteoporosis – two things women going through perimenopause often struggle with.
Healthy holiday main and side recipes
Christmas nut roast
If you’re vegan or have a vegan family, then a nut roast makes the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas meal. Nuts are rich in poly and monounsaturated fats, which support blood vessel health and hormone production. They positively impact your endocrine (hormonal) system and even help lower cholesterol and insulin levels. This recipe uses walnuts, but most nuts you fancy nibbling on come Christmas are going to have a similar positive impact on your hormone health.
Nut and apricot stuffing balls
..however, if you are still going down the traditional route, we have some good news for you! Turkey is actually a fairly lean protein, with many health benefits. It’s a good source of iron which is perfect if you are menstruating or trying to get pregnant. If you are going through perimenopause or have experienced menopause, your iron needs change – but you can still definitely enjoy some Turkey come Christmas time! If you still want to get all the health benefits of nuts, without forgoing meat, these stuffing balls are a great option! They’re made of pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts, with some apricots thrown in for a few extra vitamins.
Red cabbage with Bramley apple and walnuts
This recipe for braised cabbage includes a hormone-health favourite, walnuts, but it’s the apples we’re really interested in here. Not only do they make the cabbage taste heavenly, but they offer a great mix of nutrients, including fibre. They are low in calories which makes them ideal for getting all the nutritional benefits, without the high levels of sugar found in many other fruits.
Healthy holiday dessert recipes
Low fat lemon meringue pie
We love something citrusy at the end of Christmas lunch – and this lemon meringue is low in fat and high in flavour! Citrus fruits are an amazing source of vitamin C – which has health benefits whether you’re trying to conceive (Vitamin C is great for both male and female fertility) or navigating menopause, as it’s known to reduce the risk of hot flushes. Vitamin C is also great for our immune system – which always needs an extra boost at this time of year!
Paleo-Blueberry Cheesecake
If you’d rather have a very berry Christmas, we love this gluten-free, blueberry cheesecake! Blueberries are amazing for supporting your hormone health. Like lemons, they are full of vitamin C but they are also loaded with natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, which are great for reducing free-radicals that can run havoc in your endocrine system.. But the best part? There’s no baking involved! This is the ideal dessert for making ahead of time, making your Christmas morning totally stress free.
