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For most people, Christmas is one of the few days of the year when diet goes awry, but that’s not the case for these wellness enthusiasts.
DailyMail.com spoke to three people – a vegan, a biohacker and an Ozempic user – to find out what those committed to a certain lifestyle plan to eat on Christmas Day.
While everyone says they’ll find room for mashed potatoes and desserts, staples like turkey will be left off their plates. And all three say they will limit their alcohol consumption.
A study by Wren Kitchens found that the average person eats 5,370 calories on Christmas Day, double the recommended daily value for men and triple for women.
This gluttony would require almost nine days of non-stop hiking for someone to burn.
But with many filling their plates, the Ozempic user said he wouldn’t eat a portion of meat larger than would fit in the palm of his hand, while the biohacker insisted any meat he consumed must be grass-fed.
Below, DailyMail.com reveals what Christmas dinner will be like for people following popular diets.
The above shows a roast ribeye from a grass-fed cow with rosemary, cauliflower, green beans, bacon-wrapped scallops, roasted potatoes, and pumpkin pie. This image was generated by AI to mimic a meal eaten by Dave Asprey.
biohacker
Dave Asprey claims to have founded biohacking, a lifestyle that aims to reduce a person’s biological age and optimize all aspects of their health, such as cognition and athletic ability.
Unlike many American families who eat turkey on Christmas Day, Asprey ended the tradition 15 years ago.
Instead, he cooks a roast ribeye (a nearly 7-pound piece of beef taken from the rib section of a cow) for his girlfriend, two teenagers and friends.
Meat should be grass-fed, which some studies show contains more nutrients, including two to six times more omega-3 fatty acids, which are said to improve health, brain and joints.
Biohacker Dave Asprey, pictured, revealed his food choice for Christmas Day
Add sprigs of rosemary and oregano, both previously praised for their longevity benefits.
To start her meal, Mrs. Asprey serves bacon-wrapped scallops.
And to accompany the main course, it offers vegetables, including cauliflower with butter and pecorino cheese, shiitake mushrooms, red cabbage, leeks and will even have a few potatoes as a cheat.
Your guests are encouraged to eat the protein first, which Asprey says can help reduce blood sugar spikes, before starting on the vegetables.
For dessert, serve coconut milk-based ice cream with homemade pumpkin pie.
Making the dishes himself is essential to avoid additives, he told DailyMail.com.
Pumpkin pies purchased at grocery stores often contain xanthan gum, an emulsifier linked to colon cancer, and artificial colors such as Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, linked to hyperactivity in children.
For drinks, the family can open a bottle of organic red wine or sake from Japan, but she says they generally avoid alcohol, which is essential to not feel sick the next day.
“When you’re not feeling well, such as hungover, you’re more likely to be unkind to others,” he said, “whereas if you’re not, that leads to a better atmosphere.”
It is recommended to drink plenty of water.
Asprey also emphasized the importance of his guests getting together at Christmas, and everyone pitching in to help prepare the food.
“It’s very important in my house that everyone collaborates in preparing the food in some way,” she said. “That means everyone feels more included and it creates a real sense of community.”
The image above is an AI-generated photo showing a recommended Christmas meal for people taking weight loss medications. It shows a small portion of turkey, Brussels sprouts, a small potato and beet.
Ozempic
Ozempic and similar weight loss medications, such as Wegovy, have taken the United States by storm, and it is estimated that up to six percent of Americans (or 19 million people) are currently using these medications.
They work by suppressing the appetite, causing the person to eat less and lose weight as a result.
But experts say it’s essential that people make sure they consume enough nutrients while taking the drug and follow a high-protein diet, which can help preserve essential muscle mass while burning fat.
Sam Tejada, who advises on Ozempic and Mounjaro, suggested a Christmas meal for people taking weight-loss medications.
Some experts suggest this may also help people avoid regaining the weight they’ve lost, and a study this year found that most people who stopped taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, regained two-thirds of the weight. that they had lost.
Sam Tejada, who previously used Ozempic and Mounjaro to lose 60 pounds and now advises hundreds of people on the drug, said Ozempic users should still eat on Christmas Day.
He said an Ozempic user should eat as much turkey as they can fit in the palm of their hand, and then two palm-sized servings of rainbow-colored vegetables.
“They will probably feel full before they finish this,” he said, “and some people can’t manage anywhere near this amount while taking the medication.”
“But it’s important to consume food to help maintain muscle mass.”
He also emphasized to Ozempic users that it is important to stay hydrated throughout the day.
In the spirit of the holidays, Ozempic users can indulge in some Christmas treats
However, he does advise staying away from “heavy foods” with high fat content, including eggnog, and carbohydrates, such as potatoes, as these will make people feel nauseous and sluggish.
The image above is an AI-generated photo showing a recommended Christmas meal for people following a vegan diet. Includes seitan with wild rice filling, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, plus a cup of hot chocolate and a glass of non-alcoholic apple cider.
vegan
Dr. Michael Greger is a leading researcher in the field of longevity and offers daily tips to extend a person’s healthy lifespan. He is also vegan and does not eat any foods of animal origin, such as milk, cheese, steak or lamb chops.
This holiday season, Dr Greger told DailyMail.com that the first rule to remember is that you don’t need to follow a strict eating plan at Christmas and that sometimes it’s important to relax restrictions.
Michael Greger revealed his vegan Christmas diet plan
However, he revealed that instead of the traditional turkey his family has seitan.
Seitan is a popular meat substitute and is made from gluten, the main protein in wheat.
“It’s probably disappointing for a meat eater,” he said, “but I haven’t eaten meat in 30 years and I love it.”
Not only does he like seitan because it’s a healthy alternative to meat, but because the food is versatile, it can sometimes resemble meatloaf, which his family has fond memories of eating during the holidays.
Unlike other dieters, he eats traditional stuffing, which can be made with wild rice and breadcrumbs.
On the side, her family follows tradition and eats sweet potatoes and white potatoes, and for dessert they have a traditional homemade pumpkin pie.
Like the biohacker and Ozempic user, Dr. Greger’s family avoids alcohol during the holidays.
Dr. Greger says he and his family do not drink substances that can cause cancer, and some studies have linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of the disease.
Instead, they consume hot chocolate and non-alcoholic spiced apple cider with cloves and cinnamon.