3 Festive Fitness Recipes to keep you Healthy over Christmas

With all the rich food on offer over Christmas, from duck-fat roast potatoes to six-month-matured brandy Christmas pudding, it’s almost inevitable that even the most focussed fitness fanatic will gain a little festive weight over the party season....or is it? January’s hard enough to swallow (excuse the pun), without having to order the next size up in your favourite Be An Athlete running shorts, so we’ve come up with a solution. Presenting your favourite Christmas recipes, but with a healthy, fitness inspired spin! BAA humbug, indeed...

Christmas Breakfast - Spiced Apple Nut Porridge Recipe

If the prospect of opening presents prevents you from getting to sleep on Christmas Eve, imagine what the thought of this delicious Christmas morning breakfast will do. Thankfully, its combination of protein, fibre and vitamin C is the perfect cocktail of nutrients to combat sleep deprivation and prepare you for the busy day ahead, filled with estranged family members and kids who’ve drank far too much lemonade.

(Serves 2)

5 tbsp of porridge oats
½ cup of chopped nuts (including any combination of pecans, walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts)
Quarter cup of chopped dried fruit (including any combination apricots, cranberries, raisins, sultanas, or dates)
2 tbsp almond butter 
250 ml almond milk
1 apple, peeled and chopped
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp fresh ginger
½ vanilla pod

1. Combine the chopped apple, almond milk, almond butter, vanilla, cinnamon and ginger in a saucepan, bring to the boil, and allow to simmer for five minutes
2. Remove from the heat and whizz together in a blender until it becomes a smooth consistency
3. Return to the heat, and stir in the dried fruit and porridge oats
4. Once cooked through, stir in the nuts, and serve.

Christmas Lunch - Turkey Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Christmas is a carbohydrate nightmare, which is why we’ve come up with this delicious carb-free lunch in order to give your stomach a break come the big day. By substituting the heavy gluten-based tortilla wrap for a nice fresh lettuce leaf, you’ll feel spritely enough to undertake the annual family Christmas walk, too. Thank us later.

(serves 4)

300g Turkey, cut into chunks or strips
1 iceberg lettuce
20 shelled prawns
4 sundried tomatoes
8 scallions
2 cloves of garlic
1 small ginger root, finely chopped
1 carrot
Half a lemon
Handful of mint
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1. Splash a glug of oil into the pan and cook on a high heat
2. Sauté the garlic, chilli, ginger and chopped scallions for approximately two to three minutes
3. Reduce the heat, add the turkey and prawns, and cook through
4. Squeeze the half lemon into the mixture, and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper
5. In order to create the dressing, whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, honey and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Adjust the measurements to taste.
6. Carefully remove the outer layers of the lettuce, wash, rinse and dry.
7. Serve the turkey mixture in the middle of each leaf and grate a little carrot on top. Now drizzle with the dressing, garnish with a sprig of mint, and then close the parcel up using a cocktail stick to hold it in place.

Christmas Drink - High Protein Christmas Eggnog Recipe

Full of flavour, high in protein and low in sugar – what more can you ask for from a festive drink? How about the gift of vitamin A and vitamin C, too, provided by the superfood that is cherries! Time to forget the traditional glass of milk for Father Christmas. Leave him a glass of this instead, and he’ll finish his round in no time!

(serves 4 – 6)

1200 ml Almond Milk
6 free range eggs
1 vanilla pod
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus additionally for garnishing
20 fresh cherries
200 ml brandy (optional)

1. Combine the almond milk, cinnamon sticks, vanilla pod and nutmeg in a saucepan and heat gently until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Now remove and allow to steep
2. Whisk the 6 eggs and stir into the mixture
3. Add the optional (but highly recommended!) 200ml of brandy
4. Separate the cherries between the glasses, and pour the eggnog on top
5. Dust the additional nutmeg over the surface for an authentic finish!


Let us know which recipe you’re going to attempt, and what the results were in the comment box below. And why not share one of your own favourite fitness inspired Christmas recipes, too! If all goes to plan, you’ll look even better in your Be An Athlete premium sportswear come January when everyone else is dreading that first gym session of the year!

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*As with all exercise/fitness/health regimes always consult your physician first