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Festive Goals: Pile on the tinsel, not the pounds!

Admin • Dec 27, 2019
It’s that time of year again – lights everywhere, beautifully adorned Christmas trees, festive music, warm Christmas cheer exchanged as you cross paths with friends and strangers alike. It’s the time of year where we wind down after a challenging year and we take the time to invest in people – whether its boozy corporate Christmas parties, client lunches, quick Christmas coffee meetups, numerous gatherings with friends and family over lunch and dinner, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will all involve copious amounts of food and alcohol. All that effort you have put in over the year eating well, exercising, and investing in your heath, are you ready to shift your focussed mindset and risk derailing your momentum with a couple of weeks of Christmas blowout?!

Fortunately, there is lots you can do to ensure that you keep on track with your nutrition and focus without seeming all ‘bah, humbug!’ when you’re out with your friends. After all nobody wants an Ebenezer Scrooge in their midst! Here are 5 key Bodyplot tips to help you effortlessly glide through this festive season with your goals still at the forefront of your mind but without taking away all the enjoyment and fun that should be had at this time.

Santa always likes a plan and so should you!
It is with meticulous planning that Santa and his elves get around to all the houses they need to visit on Xmas Eve. Take a leaf from his book and make sure you PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! Make sure you plan your meals ahead of time, If you’re going out, check the menus in advance and choose the meal you will eat that evening and plan your other meals during the day around it so that your day is balanced. Stay focussed on your selection when you get to the restaurant and don’t look at the menu again when you get there so you get tempted or swayed to choose something else. If you are having a dinner party at someone’s house ask for the menu in advance so you can plan your eatin strategy in advance.

Eat well for the whole day – rule out that crazy chrimbo snack binge!
As with the above tip, don’t let one meal throw you off BUT equally prepare for that meal by ensuring you eat consistently beforehand. Instead of going crazy on christmas snacks throughout the day find healthy alternatives. This way you can achieve your macros for the day and still enjoy the meal out in the evening and maybe the odd cheeky treat. Remember also that changes only ever happen through consistent behaviour so if you are being consistent in the day, you are less likely to let yourself go in the evening.

Switch it up and indulge in some healthy alternatives for your christmas faves
Everyone loves a good old christmas dinner with all the trimmings and we are by no means suggesting you forego your christmas day meal. But there are some better choices you can make. Why not make some easy switches on your christmas plate? Instead of roast potatoes laden in fat or buttery mash potatoes why not make some baked sweet potatoes or cauliflower mash? How about grilling your food or using an air fryer instead of deep frying? Replace panko breadcrumbs with oats? The most dangerous dishes on the table are the vegetables cooked in creamy sauces: You know the candied sweet potatoes and the broccoli topped with cheese sauce aren’t good for you. No, you can’t coat your peas and carrots in melted butter either. Reach for steamed vegetables or flavour them with olive oil, lemon and herbs and you’ll save about 150 calories per serving. And finally remember your portion control. You don’t have to go for second and third helpings. Eat mindfully and consciously; take your time and you will feel satisfied without having to stuff yourself with additional helpings.

A family that’s healthy together, stays together
Get the whole family involved this Christmas. Christmas really does not have to equate to bad food and sitting around watching movies all day. Involve the whole family in eating well and talk about why you have made these changes. By educating yourselves all together, it becomes a family goal and something that you are all invested in together. More over if you are all eating the same meal together, it is easier to succeed. After that Christmas meal make sure you all spend some time outdoors together having a long walk to get that digestion going and keep on top of the exercise. Its also a fantastic way to bond with the family being outdoors with nature.

Stay focused on your daily goals
Just because it’s Christmas this does not give you license to take a break from your routine! Remember to stick to all other components of your journey. Keep your stress levels low; big family gatherings especially at Christmas can often get that blood pressure rising but keep your stress levels low by meditating for ten minutes or doing some yoga, get your 8 hours of sleep a day to keep you focused and stress free. Make sure you find thirty minutes at the beginning of your day to exercise and get those endorphins flowing. And most importantly STAY HYDRATED! Stick to your two litres of water a day. We appreciate the temptation of the free-flowing alcohol. If you are having the odd cheeky glass, go for low calorie alcohols such as gin, Or replace alcohol with plenty of sparkling water with fresh fruit or lemon/lime. Not only does this feel like a nice drink but helps you stay on top pf your hydration target.

While we all love the atmosphere and joyous spirit that the festive season brings, it’s important to keep a bit of balance in relation to what you put into your mouth over the coming weeks. We’re not going to be killjoys and tell you to only eat alfalfa sprouts and activated almonds leading up to Christmas. But do try out the above tips to stay balanced and focused on your goals. Merry Xmas and enjoy the festivities and the food!
By Body Plot 01 Mar, 2024
Ingredients ½ cup rolled oats - use GF, if necessary 2 Tbsp chia seeds 1 tsp orange zest 1 Tbsp golden raisins (sultanas) ½ tsp pure vanilla extract 1 cup homemade coconut milk or store-bought light coconut milk* 200g greek yogurt or soya yogurt BERRY COMPOTE: ¾ cup blueberries - I used frozen ¾ cup blackberries - I used frozen 1 tsp coconut sugar TO SERVE: 2 Tbsp almond or hazelnut butter 2 tsp coconut flakes 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds Method: OATS: Combine all the oat ingredients in a your Body Plot Jar. Give the mixture a good stir and let it sit in the fridge overnight, or for at least 2 hours. 2. BERRY COMPOTE: Add a splash of water, frozen blueberries, blackberries and coconut sugar to a small pan. Cook over medium heat for about 10 - 15 minutes. Mash the berries with a wooden spoon or a fork, they should fall apart quite easily. If not, cook them for a few more minutes. Let the compote cool at room temperature. 3. TO SERVE: Add the berry compote on top of the oats. Drizzle on your nut butter and top with coconut flakes, fresh berries and 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds which can be stored in the centre pot of your jar.
By Body Plot 01 Mar, 2024
Ingredients:  HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING: 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp vinegar 1 tbsp mustard 1 tsp maple syrup / honey 1 tsp cumin seeds Salt and pepper to taste SALAD: 1/2 cup cucumber, diced 5 baby tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup steamed beetroot, diced 1/2 small red onion, diced 1/2 cup red peppers, diced 4 tbsp carrots, grated 100g chickpeas PROTEIN: 4 scrambled egg whites / 100g scrambled tofu, 100g lighter feta 1 tbsp sunflower seeds Method: DRESSING: Make your dressing and add it to the centre compartment of your Body Plot Jar. SALAD 2. Prepare your vegetables and layer this in your jar, one ingredient at a time. Feel free to add any additional vegetables that you like. 3. Top with your choice of protein before firmly shutting your Body Plot jar. TO SERVE: 4. When ready to eat, pour the dressing from the centre compartment over your salad followed by the seeds and serve cold.
By Body Plot 31 Jul, 2023
Thai green curries are one of our favourite dishes and is so easy to make. It's also a deliciously balanced meal and is a favourite for all of our Body Plotting families. Ingredients: Sliced carrots Shiitake Mushrooms [or any is fine] 1 cubed Aubergine Mangetout Pak choi Tenderstem broccoli 1 Red bell pepper Shallots 1 red chilli 4 cloves garlic 1 thumb piece ginger 1/2 lime Bunch of coriander 1 tsp coconut oil 1 can light coconut milk 1 block of tofu or your choice of protein 3 tbsp Thai green curry paste Method: In a nonstick wok pan add coconut oil. Once melted, add the sliced onions and saute. Meanwhile, cube tofu and add to an air fryer for 15 minutes to crisp up! Add the garlic and ginger and continue to saute. Add the remaining vegetables and continue to stir on high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the coconut milk, thai green paste and cubed tofu or your choice of protein and stir. Let this simmer for as long as you can but a minimum of 10 minutes. Before serving, stir in coriander and lime. Garnish with red chillies and serve!
By Body Plot 21 Jun, 2023
Pastries typically are high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. Check out this quick 15-minute recipe to make a pastry that's higher in protein and contains some Vitamin D too! Ingredients: 1 Jus-roll filo pastry Sliced or diced mushrooms of choice Sliced Eatlean protein cheese Olive spread or butter for brushing Method: Roll out the pastry and pile 4 on top of one another. Using a sharp knife, cut them into three lengthways so the width is about one inch. Top each line with a brush of olive spread, protein cheese followed by mushrooms. Take the top of one line of pastry and fold it into a triangle. Keep folding and repeating until the entire line is wrapped. Brush the butter over to seal the pastry and add to an air fryer for 15 minutes. Serve with some mint greek yogurt or without any dip at all!
By Body Plot 16 May, 2023
This sweet and sour curry is the ultimate comfort and nourishment in a bowl. Both tangy and spicy, it also has 10 different plants out of the 30 plants that the NHS recommends you consume every week. Try this recipe and tag us if you give it a go! Ingredients: 2 tsp sesame oil 4 cloves garlic 1 thumb piece of ginger 1 large carrot 1 red onion 1 red bell pepper 150g mushrooms Pineapple 1 red chilli Spring onion greens 3 tbsp sriracha 3 tbsp sweet chilli 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce Meat-free pieces of choice (we used 120g Plant kitchen peri peri pieces) Method: Start by cutting all of your vegetables julienne and pineapple into chunks. Cutting your fruit and veg first makes a significant difference to how your vegetables cook and your speed through the dish. Next add 2 tsp sesame oil onto high heat to a nonstick pan. Once warm, add red onions and saute until almost translucent. Add crushed garlic and ginger and continue to stir. Next add red bell peppers and carrots and any other vegetables that take longer to cook. Continue to saute. Once the vegetables are half cooked, add your remaining vegetables and meat-free pieces. Stir until immersed. Add the pineapples along with the condiments. Stir and reduce to low to medium heat. Add your spring onions and save a handful to garnish with. Serve on the side of high fibre bread, quinoa, bulgar wheat or a small portion of egg fried rice.
By Body Plot 01 May, 2023
Homemade tortilla wraps are so easy to make! They're nutritious, delicious and free from chemicals and preservatives. Ingredients: Dry - 3 cups multigrain flour - 1 tsp salt - 1.5 tsp baking powder - 0.5 tsp turmeric powder - Sprinkle of black pepper Wet - 1/4 cup olive oil - 3/4 cup cold water - Extra flour for rolling Method: Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Once mixed, create a well in the centre. Add the wet ingredients and mix until fully immersed. If the mixture is wet, add more flour. Dust some flour onto the worktop and add the dough. Knead the dough for 10 minutes. Place a towel on top and let it sit for 30 minutes. I usually make this in the morning and let it sit for the day until I'm ready. Once set, divide into 6 balls, flatten with your palm and roll into a circle. Add a non-stick pan to medium heat, and add the tortilla. After a few minutes, flip this using a spatula. Press with your spatula until evenly cooked followed by flipping one more time. Flip one more time and serve. You can also make these in advance and serve. Uses: Pizza on a wrap, lebenese wraps, salad wraps and more!
By Body Plot 18 Dec, 2022
These brownies are gooey, chocolatey and full of fibre and nutrients! They are perfect to make with the kids and are super delicious and indulgent for the entire family. Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed 20g unsalted organic grass-fed butter or olive spread 2 large eggs or chia eggs/flax eggs ½ cup pure maple syrup 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 28g cacao powder ½ tsp baking powder 1 pinch sea salt or Himalayan salt 2 tbsp semisweet / dark chocolate chips Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat with spray. Set aside. Place chickpeas, butter, eggs, maple syrup, extract, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a blender and cover and blend until completely smooth. Add chocolate chips and mix by hand until blended. Evenly spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the brownies comes out clean. Cut into 16 brownie squares and serve! Macros per brownie square: 71 calories, 2.18g P, 11g C, 1.2g Fibre, 2.18g Fat
By Body Plot 08 Nov, 2022
Aloo paratha is one of ours and our clients' favourite recipes. It gives us the warmth of family, love and culture. From a nutritional stand point, it contains some great spices and plants that are favourable to out gut health however on the down side, is a carbohydrate-filled meal with little balance. For this reason, we eat aloo paratha every now and then and when we do, we try our best to make it as healthy as we can - we hope you enjoy it! Ingredients: 2 cups multi-grain flour 1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup of water 3 medium potatoes Spices: 1 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1/2 tsp chaat masala or amchur powder 1 tsp kasthuri methi 1/2 fennel powder 1/4 tsp ajwain 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt 3/4 tsp fresh ginger 2 tbsp coriander leaves Method: Add 2 cups multi-grain flour, 1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 cup of water to a mixing bowl. Mix through and add more water if needed to form a soft and non-stick dough. Keep kneading until soft and pliable. (Tip if you press with your finger it should dent easily and rebound slightly.) Cover and keep the dough aside for about 30 minutes (or longer.) Boil 3 medium potatoes until a fork goes through. (Tip: Whilst you may usually peel the potatoes in regular aloo paratha recipes, we choose to keep it on as much of the fibre is in the skin!) Mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy and then add all of your spices on the spice list. Mix them all together and add more spices to suit your needs. Once done, divide the mix into equal portions and roll into balls. Knead the dough and divide this into equal portions equivalent to the balls. Spread multi-grain flour onto your work surface and roll your dough into a small circle equivalent to a CD. Place the spiced ball into the centre and, with a light hand, stretch the dough whilst turning the dough so that it encloses the aloo ball. Top the aloo ball with a tough of flour so that the dough closes. Dip the ball into flour and use a light hand and a rolling pin to roll out the paratha into a circle. Be careful to not use a heavy hand or make it to thin as it may crack. Pour some rapeseed oil into a small bowl and use a baking brush. Place the paratha onto a medium flame, once the pan is hot. Once you see some light bubbles, flip this to the other side. Press down gently with a spatula and brush a light amount of rapeseed oil. The brush enables you to only add little oil. After 2 minutes, flip to the other side and press firmly with your spatula once again, being sure to get the edges. Brush a light layer of oil once again and flip. After 30 seconds, remove from the pan and serve hot! So you can achieve more balance have this with a protein-based curry such as tofu, dip into greek yogurt which you can make into raita or mint sauce or top with protein cheese and melt!
By Body Plot 01 Nov, 2022
Apple are full of fibre and when paired with protein it makes the perfect midday or evening snack! Give this recipe a go and we promise to not disappoint! It's simple to make, easy to source and delicious to eat! Ingredients: 1 cooking apple / Bramley apple 1/2 tsp cinnamon or more if you like cinnamon 1 pot of vanilla protein pudding from LIDL 3 tbsp water Method: Take a small non stick pan and place on top of medium heat. Add the water followed by one cubed cooking apple. We leave the cubes pretty large for good crunch! Add the cinnamon and stir gently for 90-120 seconds. Meanwhile, add 1 vanilla protein pudding into a bowl. The pudding contains 20g protein! Once the apple have par-cooked and al dente, add them on top of the cold pudding. Optional toppings are: oats, seeds and extra cinnamon. Easy, simple, nutritious and delicious - enjoy!
By Body Plot 01 Nov, 2022
We encourage our Body Plotters to go for a walk in nature daily. Studies have shown that time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and can also improve mood. It's also a great way to get away from the stressors of home life, and work life and gives us a fresh environment to think. However, there are days when perhaps going outside isn't as easy. Here are some easy ways to rack up your steps without needing to get outdoors: 30-mins of cooking: 800 steps 30-minute cardio home workout: 3000 steps 30-minute strength training home workout: 500 steps 10-mins of walking up and down the stairs [distributed across the day]: 1000 steps Folding the laundry [keep the dryer or airer away from where you are folding so you fold one item of clothing at a time and walk over to place it in its pile]: 500 steps Going to the shed/garage to get something: 30-50 steps Speaking to a friend on the phone for 30 minutes whilst walking around the living room: 2500 steps Walking around the office whilst speaking to a colleague: 2500 steps Cleaning the kitchen/dining table: 1000 steps Emptying the dishwasher: 50 steps Getting the kids ready for school/bed: 100 steps Walking to the toilet: 30 steps Walking to refill your water bottle in the kitchen: 30 steps Walk during TV adverts: 800 steps Offering to make tea for everyone: 40-50 steps Playstation games with kids e.g. just dance: 1000 steps Some other handy tips are to leave your bottle in the kitchen or use a smaller bottle to encourage you to walk and refill, to walk back and forth twice during each activity and be the helpful house member who gets things for the family and for others. The more active you are, the quicker you will rack up those steps!
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