Edward Mather, a nutritionist at FuelHub, has highlighted two Christmas dinner foods that have some surprising health benefits
A food expert has shed light on important items to include in your Christmas dinner this year – but it’s bad news for veggie haters. Edward Mather, a nutritionist at FuelHub, said that two particular greens not only add flavour but may offer health benefits, particularly for those concerned about blood sugar levels.
“Christmas often gets labelled as the ultimate ‘cheat day’, with many people trying to focus on their health or lose weight dreading the Christmas dinner in particular,” he said. “However, your Christmas meal contains a wide variety of nutrients – and more than you might expect.”
First on Edward’s nice list were Brussels sprouts, often praised for their impressive antioxidant, vitamin K and fibre content. The latter is what’s thought to help regulate blood sugar levels, while other studies have even linked sprout consumption to slashing the risk of diabetes.
“Brussel sprouts are high in fibre, antioxidants and other nutrients such as vitamin K and potassium,” Edward continued. “These all contribute to improved gut and bone health, reduced inflammation, improved digestion and helps to regulate blood sugar.”
Parsnips also received praise from Edward for similar health properties, including their significant vitamin C content. According to Healthline, just one serving of parsnips can provide around 25% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, essential for a robust immune system.
Moving on, he added: “Apart from the traditional veggies such as Brussel sprouts and parsnips, other roasted veggies like cauliflower and beetroot can be a great addition due to their high fibre content, antioxidant profile and low calories. Cabbage can contribute to the meals fibre content along with providing an extra dose of vitamin C.”
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If you’re still keen to take this up a notch, Edward also suggested making a few simple switches in your roast dinner. Swapping out traditional stuffing for whole grain stuffing can make a big difference, in addition to using less oil on your roast potatoes.
He went on: “Swapping traditional stuffing for whole grain stuffing (use whole grain bread or quinoa instead of white bread) will boost fibre content and provide more complex carbohydrates as opposed to simple carbs. Using moderate amounts of olive oil to roast potatoes and vegetables instead of other oils can improve the nutrient density of the meal whilst reducing the excess fat content you may get when using other methods.
“Switching to desserts, using dark chocolate (less than 70% cocoa) as a dip for fruits like strawberries and bananas is a good alternative to traditional Christmas puddings.”
Later, he also advised: “The Christmas period usually involves a lot of eating and this can take it’s toll on the digestive system. If this is a concern for you, add yoghurt and kefir to your shopping list. They contain probiotics – good bacteria – which improves the gut microbiota. This aids digestion and reduces constipation, so increasing consumption of yoghurt can be a good idea.”
