Have Yourself a Healthier, Happier Christmas

The festive season is here, which for many of us means a time of indulging in more decadent food and drink than normal. And while this is what makes the festive season the most wonderful time, it can be a problem if you're trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy a healthier festive season this year with the help of a few of our convenient appliances.

BLENDERS
Start the day with a super-healthy smoothie or keep your energy levels up during the busy days with an energy-boosting smoothie. This will help you stay fuller for longer, ensuring that you don't attack the first plate of snacks that comes your way. You can also add healthier meals to your festive menu, like chilled soups and sauces or mock sorbets and cocktails with less calories.

Superfood Smoothie Sipper
Kick-start every day the healthy way with this deliciously easy smoothie packed with superfoods.

TIME: 10 Minutes

SERVINGS: 2

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups almond milk
  


• 1 ½ cups blueberries; frozen
  


• 1 banana, fresh or frozen; sliced
  


• ½ cup raw pistachio nuts
  


• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
  


• ½ tsp. fresh Tango zest
  


• ⅛ tsp. cinnamon

Directions

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Garnish with a slice of Tango.

AIR FRYER
Air fryers are still trending for a reason – they give you quick, healthy results without the mess and too much prep. Your guests will love delicious appetisers like crispy calamari, shrimp or mac and cheese balls, and you can easily also whip up healthier sides like sweet potato fries, whole cauliflower or zucchini chips in an instant. You can even make your Christmas roast in the air fryer.

Lemon Roast Chicken & Potato Wedges

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 full chicken
  


• 2 tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
  


• 6–8 thyme sprigs; leaves only
  


• 1 lemon
  


• ½ tsp. (2.5 ml) paprika
  


• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  


• 4 sage sprigs
  


• 4 thyme sprigs
  


• 2 oregano sprigs
  


• 1 onion
  


• 2 carrots; peeled and chopped
  


• 2 celery stalks; chopped
  


• 1 garlic bulb; halved
  


• 2 lemons; halved
  


• 6 Carisma potatoes
  


• 4 tsp. (20 ml) flour
  


• ½ cup (125 ml) white wine
  


• 1 cup (250 ml) chicken stock
  

• Rinse the chicken and pat dry.
  


• Pour the olive oil into a small bowl and add the thyme, zest of 1 lemon and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Brush all over the chicken, season again and place the sage, thyme and oregano inside the cavity.
  


• Place the onions, carrots, celery, halved garlic bulbs and lemons in the basket of the air fryer, drizzle with olive oil and place the chicken on top, breast-side down. Cook for 25 min. at 220 °C.
  


• Add the potato wedges to the air fryer and reduce heat to 190 °C. Cook for 1 hr and 15 min. or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are golden brown and crisp.
  


• Remove the chicken, potatoes and caramelised lemons and set aside.
  


• Transfer the roasted vegetables into a pan and place directly over medium heat. Add the flour to form a golden paste.
  


• Pour in the wine and continue to stir, scraping up any caramelised bits sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  


• Add in the stock and allow to simmer gently for about 2 min. or until thickened to form a gravy.
  


• Strain and serve alongside the roast chicken and potatoes with a squeeze of little caramelised lemon.

MULTI-COOKERS, SLOW COOKERS & PRESSURE COOKERS
Healthy cooking can take up a lot of time, but with the help of these nifty gadgets, you can make cooking wholesome meals a whole lot easier. Pressure cookers cut down your cooking time, slow cookers make for fuss-free, all-in-one cooking and multi-cookers can do both, plus they feature additional functions like steaming, sauteing and rice and yoghurt makers. Use them to prepare big batches of basics like beans, rice, and whole grains to use as a basis for grain bowls, fresh salads and side dishes.