Christmas dinners typically consist of appetizers, soups, starters, main courses, desserts, and beverages. For the appetizers and starters, portions are smaller and are often served cold, such as raw salmon, caviar cakes, and more. However, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you should choose fewer animal organ meats like goose liver, roe, and preserved foods. You can opt for dishes prepared by steaming, roasting, and other methods. Remember to use less sauce!
Choosing Soups
When it comes to soups, clear soups and vegetable soups are the best choices. If you have gout, you should avoid thick, rich soups like cream-based soups or beef broth. If you have diabetes, avoid soups with thickening agents.
Choosing Main Courses
For the main course, since the portions are larger, choose carefully. There are different recommendations for people with different needs:
1. For those with high cholesterol, consider leaner cuts like grilled beef ribs or lamb chops, grilled fish, smoked fish, and chicken aspic. Remember to use sauce sparingly. [China Food]
2. For those concerned about weight gain, consider dishes that are grilled, smoked, steamed, or stewed, such as grilled chicken leg, char-grilled ribs, steamed crab, stewed beef, and smoked fish. Remember to remove the skin before eating to significantly reduce your fat intake.
3. For those with high blood pressure, consider dishes that require less sauce, such as garlic steamed shrimp, orange steamed fish, and grilled salmon.
4. For those with diabetes, be mindful of portion control before a big meal. If the main course portion is small, you might skip the appetizers and starters to enjoy a full main course. You can choose smoked, grilled, steamed, or stewed dishes.
5. For those with gout, overeating and drinking rich broths are strictly forbidden. Pay attention to your portion size during the meal and opt for lighter dishes. Avoid stews, as long cooking times cause the broth to contain a high amount of purines, which can worsen your condition.
6. For those with osteoporosis, take the opportunity to increase your calcium intake. You can choose calcium-rich dishes like cabbage rolls with cheese, sesame chicken leg, and grilled mackerel.
Choosing Desserts
Don't forget dessert. Opt for jellies over cakes. Hot beverages are the best choice because you can sweeten them yourself. If you have diabetes, avoid juice due to its high sugar content.
Treat yourself to a well-deserved rest! With a little attention to the dishes you choose, you can also have a happy Christmas. Merry Christmas!