NUTRITION

I’m not going to suggest that you give up drinking in December, or that you resist the box of Quality Street as it does the rounds. But what works for me, when it comes to exercising restraint, is to focus more on the pleasure of it all, and make sure I get bang for my buck from the season.

Sometimes, a few glasses of wine and a laugh with friends is exactly what my soul needs, and well worth the fuzzy head in the morning. What I’ve become much stricter about is drinking out of obligation, awkwardness or sheer habit; these are the drinks we need to give up. The fun ones can stay.

One rule I set throughout December is to only drink three nights in any given week. This might be a single glass of organic wine with a friend after a hard day or over a meal, or it might mean a few cocktails and a dance. But by limiting these evenings, I force myself to think about whether I really do want this cheap glass of fizz at an event I’m only at for an hour. This extra layer of restraint really works for me.

So this year I’ve invested in a case of bubbly GO! Kombucha ( gokombucha.co.uk), which is delicious enough to feel like a luxury, without the alcohol units. Now is the time to stock up on healthy alternatives to booze, so that when you’re heading over to a friend’s for dinner, or reaching for a bottle of something in the fridge, there’s a healthier alternative to merlot.

Boston suggests a similar “mindful” approach with eating over the festive period. “Practice eating mindfully, paying attention to what you have on your plate and in your mouth. Chew everything until it disappears and savour every bite, and if you’re at home, make sure you turn off any distractions,” she says. “if you can’t do this with all your meals, commit to doing it for one meal a day, so you still build this up as a habit.”

For nutritionist Kay Ali (youneedanutritional therapist.com), new year detoxes aren’t just misguided, they’re unnecessary. “The idea that you can go on a detox, as if it’s something you can switch on and off, is a huge misunderstanding. Detoxification is a continual process that keeps us alive. Every four minutes our blood filters through our liver for purification.

“The only thing you do have control over is whether you choose to support this natural process, or burden it. That’s why you don’t have to embark on a diet overhaul to feel amazing; start from where you are and implement small and simple dietary upgrades that feel right for you.”

Her suggestion for December is a blessedly simple one; no powders or potions in sight. “Ask yourself how many vegetables a day do I eat? And then add two more. It’s really that simple.

“There’s no use knowing that seven vegetables a day is ideal for optimal well-being, if you only manage to eat two or three. Otherwise, it’s just not something you’ll be able to maintain long term,” she says.

“Remember, the more colourful vegetables you can include in your diet the better, and the good news is that they’re all in season around Christmas. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts are particularly detoxifying, and starting your day with a vegetable-based smoothie is a quick and easy way to include the additional two servings.”

Pampered pooches

read recently about the “humanisation” of dog food. Less Caesar, more Caesar salad, as pet-owners increasingly feed their dogs food we’d swallow ourselves. In California, someone who perhaps needs more going on in his life has developed a pumpkinspiced latte for dogs. But I think Britons got here first. A couple of years ago, I went to interview a chap who runs holiday kennels in South Wales. Set on a 100-acre farm, they have underfloor heating and speakers so classical music can be pumped through to the mutts, t there’s a helipad so o owners can drop their d darlings off before jet jetting to the Bahamas an and the dog food is made b by Michel Roux – o ostrich and cherryflavoured biscuits, for example. I had a small bite. Not unpleasant. A And digestives can get a bit boring, can’t they?