On Sunday 15th December, a 14-piece ensemble from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will be performing ‘Curious Creatures’ at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. The programme includes music ranging from Elgar to Vaughan Williams, from Mancini to Miranda, and from the Flight of the Bumblebee to the Baby Elephant Walk. The Exchange is pleased to have combined with the BSO and Artsreach to create a package which will take BSO musicians to primary schools in Durweston, Shillingstone and Sturminster Newton in the week before this performance at The Exchange, a venue accessible to the whole of North Dorset. The selection of music is designed to be family-friendly, but the programme is as much for seasoned concert goers as well as those looking for their first live music experience. This will be an opportunity to hear the musicians of the BSO in an environment more relaxed than a grand concert hall. Ticket prices have been kept low with the help of support from the Pitt-Rivers Charitable Trust. The performance will be at 3pm and lasts for one hour.
West End to Hollywood In February, The Exchange will be welcoming a return of a BSO ensemble, this time entitled ‘West End to Hollywood’. A brand new concert of film and stage inspired music, you’ll hear familiar tunes from Chocolat, James Bond, Toy Story, Harry Potter and Moulin Rouge, performed by 14 musicians from across the orchestra. The BSO is one of the UK’s best-loved orchestras, with a national and international reputation. Their ensemble performances give the opportunity to hear the highest quality musicians playing together in a local space. A partnership with Artsreach is what has made it possible to bring these much sought-after performers to The Exchange and make them available to audiences in North Dorset.
Barry Cuff takes a look back at what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot over the last month
Barry Cuff’s winter salad includes winter cress, lambs lettuce, various Oriental mustards, mizuna, spicy leaf mixes, winter radishes and radicchio
We lost a good friend at the end of October. Bob had an adjacent plot to ours, which he cultivated for more than 15 years. It was probably the best kept plot on the site, with straight neat paths and hardly a weed to be seen. Always willing to help out with jobs on the site, Bob erected the communal greenhouse and with help, re-roofed the main communal shed. For many years he was the one who pumped water from the well to supply the large holding tanks and troughs. During the summer months this was carried out up to five times a week. As well as working the pump, he installed new pipework and checked and repaired leaks – all this work was given freely. He was a wonderful neighbour, and towards the end he gave me his Cornish spade and strimmer: that’s the kind of man he was. We miss him, especially for our chats and exchange of ideas … and vegetables, of course.
‘We wheeled 30 loads of manure to our plots.’
On the plot It was very mild in November, up to the 18th when it got colder for a few days with night frosts, followed by a very wet spell. The allotment’s annual supply of well-rotted manure from our regular supplier arrived on 28th October – we wheeled our own 30 loads from the bunker on to our plots, where it was spread on to any bare ground as a mulch for the winter. We also opened up one of the compost heaps and wheeled 19 loads of excellent compost onto one of our plots. We have four heaps – three completed and one to which we are adding new material. Used in rotation, normally each heap takes two to three years before it is ready. Unusually, we didn’t sow any green manure this autumn – most years we use field beans, triticale, phacelia or buckwheat. Our new seeds for 2025 should arrive in the next fortnight. Due to the mild conditions up to the middle of the month, there was steady growth on the plot, especially the grass paths, and the weeds had a flush of new seedlings.
Garlic – We planted on 3rd and there was growth visible on 26th. Fresh vegetables – We’re harvesting as required from the leeks, carrots, parsnip, calabrese, celeriac, celery, beetroot, sprouts and cabbage. Salads – We love our autumn/winter salads! Fresh from the plot we have red cabbage, Chinese cabbage, winter cress, lambs lettuce, various Oriental mustards, mizuna, spicy leaf mixes, winter radishes and radicchio. From the store – We’re using potatoes, onions, Crown Prince and Butterfly Winter squashes and the last of the tomatoes are still slowly ripening in the greenhouse. From the freezer – We have a supply of peas, broad beans, French beans, sweetcorn (off the cob) and runner beans.
If you are interested in an allotment in Sturminster Newton, get in touch on [email protected]
Tracie Beardsley meets a Dorset farmer gobbling up success by farming free-range turkeys – even some vegetarians are tempted!
Mark Chilcott raises 1,300 free range bronze gold turkeys every year near Dorchester
Mark Chilcott has been thinking about Christmas since July! At his farm in Owermoigne near Dorchester, he raises 1,300 free-range bronze gold turkeys – all destined to be the centrepiece of Christmas dinners across Dorset. The birds, arriving in summer as day-old chicks, have grown up in five-star turkey heaven. Boasting almost luminescent pink heads and dangly blue wattles – Dr Who fans will liken them to Oods – a mob of them run over to us for a special treat of fallen apples. Mark has no favourites. They all look the same, and he never gives them names: ‘Name it and you can’t eat it!’ he says. By day, the flock feasts on fresh grass, nettles, slugs and insects. By night, they’re safely ensconced in a warm barn, well away from the salivating attentions of foxes. Come the second week in December, Mark, an arable and beef farmer throughout the year, calls in every favour he can to help him despatch, pluck and prepare the birds. ‘I recruit about a dozen people to help me. All my family are involved, including my mum and dad, who still help me farm even though they’re in their nineties. My wife Jo processes the hundreds of online orders.’ The end of a Chilcott turkey’s life is humane and quick. Mark uses a special stun gun to give the birds a lethal electric shock. They are dry-plucked by hand, and then receive the ultimate beauty treatment: waxing to remove every hint of fluff. The whole body is then left to hang for 10 days. Mark firmly believes this old-fashioned way of preparing turkeys is the best. ‘Just like hanging beef, hanging poultry improves flavour and makes the meat more tender. Usually, commercially-produced turkeys are around 14 weeks old when slaughtered. Mine are 24 weeks – fatter and more tender.’ This artisan approach means nothing goes to waste. The entire flock will be used in some way. Even the beautiful glossy feathers, for which turkeys were originally bred, are transformed by keen archers into arrows or used by artists for painting. The rest are composted.
By day, the Chilcott flock feasts on fresh grass, nettles, slugs and insects. At night, they’re safely ensconced in a warm barn
The turkey run With modern families tending to be smaller, there’s an increasing demand for crowns and joints rather than a whole bird. Mark recruits a retired butcher to help with the jointing: ‘I offer joints right down to as small as 1.5kg,’ he says. ‘And we do packs of drumsticks and thighs – that’s my favourite bit of the bird!’ So Mark still eats turkey on Christmas day? ‘Absolutely! And I cook the Christmas dinner. I raise it, kill it, dress, cook and eat it!’ Birds are supplied all boxed up complete with herbs and cooking instructions: ‘My top advice is to invest in a meat thermometer,’ he says. ‘Check the thickest part of the bird has reached 72 degrees. Turkeys can dry out, so start by cooking it face down and pour a glass of water into the bottom of the roasting tray to keep it moist. Stuff it with an apple and orange and season all over.’ On Christmas Eve, the farm becomes a turkey drive-through, with customers collecting orders. Mark’s customer base is loyal, many families hailing the annual Owermoigne turkey run as the official start of their Christmas. Mark reveals even some vegetarians buy – happy to “fall off the wagon” once a year for a free-range turkey! Diversification into turkey farming has paid off for the farm business. ‘There was a big initial investment in processing and refrigeration, but the turkeys have helped make good use of our land. And if wheat or beef prices are low, turkey farming provides an economic buffer.’
Mark Chilcott’s turkeys are 24 weeks when slaughtered and he uses the old-fashioned method and hangs them for ten days to improve the flavour and make the meat more tender.
And on again It doesn’t stop for Mark on Christmas Eve, however. ‘After the last turkey’s gone, I’ve still got the other animals to tend before sitting down with a celebratory beer,’ he says. ‘It’s the same on Christmas Day, like on every farm with livestock. In the New Year, I’ll clean, repair and prepare for the next batch arriving in July.’ It’s no surprise that Mark manages just one week’s holiday a year. ‘And I’m thankful for that! Many farmers never get any break. The Chilcott clan has been farming in Dorset for generations, it’s in our blood. My daughter Charlotte is studying agriculture at university and she is keen to get involved in the family business.’ It seems there’s little chance of the Chilcotts going ‘cold turkey’ anytime soon!
Who would you like to share a turkey feast with? Kaleb Cooper – Jeremy Clarkson’s oppo. I saw his live show. He was hysterical. Also, the blind comedian Chris McCausland. I really admire the way he doesn’t let his disability affect him. My son Harry is partially sighted, so we relate to Chris and his challenges.
Books by your bedside? Farmer’s Weekly gets passed around the whole family and read until it’s in tatters!
Jonathan Dimbleby’s Endgame 1944 – I’ve got it as an audio book so Harry, who also loves military history, can enjoy it.
Turkey Titbits:
The first record of a turkey in England was in 1526, brought by sailor William Strickland.
It’s believed Henry VIII was the first British monarch to enjoy turkey on Christmas Day.
In A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, Scrooge gives the Cratchit family a turkey. It’s on record that the Dickens’ family also had turkey for Christmas that year.
Boxing prodigy Ruby White has today been awarded SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2024
Ruby has been selected as the winner from around 1,000 rising sports stars supported by SportsAid in 2024, across more than 60 different sports. Previous winners include Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee, and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.
Ruby has had an astonishing year, having completed her European three-peat in April before being crowned U48kg world champion at the inaugural U19 World Boxing Championships in Colorado.
Still just 17 years old, Ruby White made boxing history in November as the first ever Under 19 World Champion, putting her small Dorset hometown of Stalbridge on the map. Her rise to the top has been anything but easy, shaped by hard work, determination, and a refusal to be outworked – both in and out of the ring.
On 1st November in Colorado USA, Ruby White became the first ever U19 World Boxing Champion, after defeating India’s Chanchal Chaudhary Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
Training for the world stage Ruby’s preparation for the World Championships involved an intensive eight-week training camp in Sheffield and Aldershot. ‘We were in camp every weekend,’ she says. ‘We did have a rest weekend, but I didn’t take it. Instead, I joined a tri-nation camp with Wales and Scotland. It was good training, but it meant I didn’t stop.’ Unlike her teammates, Ruby balances her training with a full-time job, a challenge she embraced despite its difficulties. ‘I’m the only one on the England team who works full-time. Even at the senior level, no one else does,’ she says. ‘It’s hard fitting everything in, but I’ve always funded myself, with a bit of help from my parents. I just didn’t like the idea of asking for sponsorship before.’ In late November, Ruby headed to Colorado to represent England on the world stage. ‘We flew out on 21st October and had a couple of days to adjust before the draw was announced on the Friday. I thought I wouldn’t fight until the Tuesday, but I ended up in the ring on the Saturday. It caught me off guard a bit. I wasn’t really ready!’
The road to victory Ruby’s first match, against Thailand, ended in a third-round stoppage. ‘I could have stopped her earlier, but it was my first bout of the tournament. I just needed to settle in and shake off the nerves.’ The semi-final saw Ruby face Canada, where she stopped her opponent in the second round. ‘I like to take the first round to work them out,’ she says. ‘In the second, I caught her with some big shots. The referee was a bit lenient – she should’ve stopped it earlier, but thankfully it ended the way it needed to.’ The final against India was more intense. ‘I won the first round, but she took the second,’ Ruby says. ‘I started the third strongly and was on track to win, but then the referee disqualified her.’ With that, Ruby became the first ever U19 World Champion. ‘I’m proud to be the first – it’s a bit of history, isn’t it? No one else can say that.’
Balancing life and boxing Outside the ring, Ruby’s life is a juggling act. Since moving into her own place near Gillingham, she balances her job with training, and admits it’s becoming ever harder. ‘I leave for work at six and get home at six: finding time for training is tough. I need to improve to try to get on to Team GB. I need to train full time – morning, lunch, afternoon, and then strength and conditioning and running … I can’t fit it around my work.’ Looking to the future, Ruby’s goals are clear. ‘The dream is to win gold at the Olympics and then turn professional. I’m happy to keep working hard – it’s not about the money for me – but women’s boxing still has a long way to go in terms of pay. I’d like to see it level up.’
What’s next For now, Ruby is enjoying a short break, but she remains focused on her next challenge. ‘I have to win another European title to try get on to Team GB, because I’m too young at the moment. You’ve got to be 19. I’m also too light, I’ve got to go up to 50kg instead of 48kg. And I have to build muscle, because people are going to be a lot taller!’ She’s also building connections with professional boxers like Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith, WBO cruiserweight champion until he lost the title last month. ’We’re planning to do a training camp together soon.’ And the plan now? ‘I’ll carry on winning and bring Olympic gold home to Stalbridge and Dorset.’
Wimborne Community Garden is thrilled to announce its Santa in the Garden Grotto: children can visit Santa in his woodland grotto, listen to a magical story, and receive a special gift. Families will also enjoy a beautifully lit walkway through the garden, and parents can relax with a hot drink and a mince pie while the children meet Santa. Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended. For tickets, call 07851 402207 (evenings only). All proceeds will help the award-winning garden continue its mission of providing fresh produce to Wimborne Food Bank, Wimborne Community Kitchen, and Beaucroft College’s café. Wrap up warm and join them for an enchanting Christmas experience! Friday 6th, 13th and 20th December Wednesday 18th December 3.45pm, 4.30pm & 5.15pm £10 per child Wimborne Community Garden, Top of School Lane, Wimborne BH21 1HQ
This Christmas issue of The BV is bursting at the seams with amazing people, fabulous Dorset producers and makers, and frankly, an absurd amount of festive inspiration. If we ignore for a second the 17-year-old World Champion, the doctor responsible for reducing motorbike death stats and the fizzing excitement of welcoming Tizzard’s Racing to the equestrian section … inside, you’ll find features on 95 local businesses and 26 charities – not advertisements, but proper stories written by our brilliant (and yes, paid!) journalists. It’s a huge feat, powered by a team who are part detective, part cheerleader, and wholly devoted to shouting about the people who make Dorset extraordinary. Championing local businesses comes at a cost to us, but being a community-led publication has been our mission from day one. This year, we hope to inspire you to buy a little Dorset from some of them. From a Dorset-grown Christmas tree from Trinity Street Trees to a free-range turkey from Chilcotts, you’ll find endless inspiration for local shopping and gift ideas. There’s no shortage of Dorset treats either – books, gifts and, of course, SO MUCH mouth-watering local food. By shopping locally this season, you’re not just finding unique, meaningful gifts – you’re supporting the very heart of our community. One thing that IS missing this month is our hike (sorry) – C has finally had his knee operation (huzzah!), so we’ve been housebound for a bit. We promise to bring you a new (short) walk in January! Speaking of which, a quick reminder: as always, we’ll be taking Christmas off, so the January issue will be one week later than usual. Lastly, if you haven’t already, make sure to order a copy of The BV Readers’ Photography Calendar. It’s a stunning collection of cover photos, it’ll make you smile all year and every single penny goes to The Vale Pantry—a Christmas gift that feels as good to give as it is to receive. From Courtenay, myself and the entire BV team, we wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Thank you for being part of this amazing community – we can’t wait to see you in 2025!
Laura x
On The Grumbler (Can we fix housing while not ruining the countryside? The BV, Nov 24) The hand-wringing over empty homes is all very well, but let’s not pretend it’s a silver bullet. Have you ever tried convincing a private owner to sell up? Good luck with that. I’m also tired of hearing Londoners tell us how to “fix” rural life. Your suggestion to build more affordable housing in urban areas is great. Meanwhile, here in Dorset, we’re left picking up the pieces of Westminster’s neglect. Instead of “rethinking” housing development, why not rethink who’s making these decisions? Let Dorset’s local parish councils and villagers decide what’s best for their land – not the planners with no skin in the game. Tom Jenkins, Wimborne
Your anonymous Grumbler on the housing crisis struck a chord. It’s madness to build on greenbelt land while 700,000 homes sit empty. Dorset’s identity is rooted in its landscapes and tight-knit communities – bulldozing these for profit-driven estates is shortsighted. The emphasis on empty homes is spot on. Why can’t the government help councils bring these properties back to life? Schemes should be implemented nationwide, before one further field is paved over. I wholeheartedly agree with the Grumbler’s call for limited, sympathetic rural development based on local needs. Dorset doesn’t need sprawling estates; it needs modest, affordable homes for locals who actually want to live and work here. Let’s not lose our countryside to ill-thought-out urban sprawl. Margaret E, Sherborne
Perhaps Dorset should install one of those signs on the A303 that you see in car parks: “Full – try again later.” Seriously, we need fewer estates and more common sense. Susan Parker, Shaftesbury
On the Dorset Insider https://www.theblackmorevale.co.uk/2024/11/03/just-how-meaningful-was-that-big-conversation/ (Just how meaningful was the Big Conversation? The BV, Nov 24) Your new Dorset Insider column is a breath of fresh air. It’s high time someone addressed the uncomfortable truths behind Dorset’s glossy image. The lack of planning for adult social care is deeply troubling. As a full-time carer, I see daily how inadequate support affects families. How can Dorset Council ignore its largest budget burden? Unpaid carers like me feel invisible – stretched thin, with no respite and little acknowledgment of our role in propping up the system. While the focus on affordable housing is welcome, the reality doesn’t match the rhetoric. Developers continue to prioritise luxury homes over the modest, practical dwellings Dorset’s residents actually need. I look forward to more no-nonsense insights from this column – but I hope Dorset Council is reading it too. Helen Forrester, Dorchester
The Dorset Insider pulled no punches – good for them! If they’re serious about tackling local issues, perhaps they could explain how Dorset plans to keep its countryside intact when every available field is up for grabs for “luxury” homes no one local can afford. And don’t get me started on the “super council” idea. Does Dorset really need to yoke itself to Wiltshire and Somerset? The last thing we need is their debt dragging us down like a millstone. Instead of merging, perhaps we could ask them for a loan to patch up our roads. Finally, cows aren’t the problem – they’re the solution. Let’s protect Dorset’s food producers before we pave over the farms and import tasteless veg from who-knows-where. Mike, Blandford
Thank you for publishing such an honest take on the draft Dorset Plan. I was thrilled to see a call for more integration of workspaces into housing developments. This is exactly what Dorset needs to revitalise rural communities. As a small business owner, I’d love to see our local council encourage entrepreneurs. Too many young people leave Dorset for lack of opportunities. Pair affordable homes with shared workspaces, and we could reverse this trend while cutting down on commuting. Dorset has so much potential, but we need smarter planning and bolder decisions. Let’s hope this columnist continues to push for those. Name and address supplied
On Assisted Dying How absolutely typical that given the opportunity to vote for something the vast majority of constituents actually want, Simon Hoare voted NO to Assisted Dying. The arguments against have been done to death and we have the experience of countries where this humane act is already law. There is no evidence of the elderly being despatched to an early grave and the safeguards of our Bill are, if anything, too restrictive. Above all, those who prefer to let nature take its course are free to do so, but those who wish a more dignified death at a time of their choosing, can now be spared future agonies. Our MP has chosen to indulge his personal preference against the wishes of the electorate. Penelope Simpson, Shaftesbury
Pavement Parking Friday 22 November marked four years since the previous government’s consultation on pavement parking in England closed. Cars parked on, and sometimes hogging the whole pavement, will be a familiar sight to many. Pavement parking is dangerous, especially for families with young children, people with sight loss and disabled people. A recent poll found that 87 per cent of parents have had to walk in the road because of a vehicle blocking the pavement. Living Streets has been campaigning on this issue for over 50 years and it’s high time we saw an end to the problem. Pavement parking has been banned (with exemptions) in London since the 1970s. Scotland adopted a similar approach to London which came into force earlier this year. The Welsh Government has indicated they will take action on pavement parking – but England is way behind. We hope your readers will join Living Streets and supporters like me, in urging the new Government to deal with the troubling legacy of pavement parking once and for all. Everyone will be the better for it. Sandra, Shaftesbury
On Jackdaws (A firework of cinders, The BV, Nov 24) Jane Adams’ piece captures the soul of the Dorset dawn with such vivid grace that I could almost hear the jackdaws’ wings and feel the mist on my skin. Her words remind us that these fleeting moments – a dance of birds, a sunlit hedge, a quiet road – are the true riches of life. Thank you for giving space to this kind of writing, which invites us to look up from our daily rush and rediscover the magic in the everyday. I’ll keep an eye on the wires next time I’m out early – and my heart ready to race. Peter Wakefield, Sherborne
Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to [email protected]. When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.
Inside the latest issue of The BV, the UK’s Regional Publication of the Year:
Leaving aside Ruby White (the 17-year-old World Champion), Dr Ian Mew (responsible for dramatically reducing Dorset’s motorbike deaths), the one-legged jiu-jitsu World Champion, the history of the pothole (SPOILERS: hilariously Roman!) and the fizzing excitement of welcoming Tizzard’s Racing to the equestrian section, we’ve managed to feature *95* brilliant local businesses: I promise we’ve got your Dorset Christmas shopping covered! Plus of course there’s pages and pages of Community News, farming, local history, gardening …
Also, don’t blame me, blame the snow. Go look at the Readers’ Photography and THEN tell me that nine pages is too many … Just be glad you weren’t in the office when the shortlist debate got going … (Do grab a mug of coffee before you click the cover – you know you’ll be there a while …)
Dorset’s independent businesses now have a dedicated marketing partner in Wunderdog—a full-service agency specifically designed and priced for brilliant local businesses.
Founder of wunderdog Rhiannon Harris
Founded by Rhiannon Harris, a marketing pro with experience working alongside global brands like the BBC, Financial Times, and Disney, Wunderdog brings big-brand expertise right to the heart of Dorset.
“Dorset is a hub for exceptional, self-employed talent,” says Rhiannon. “Wunderdog is here to add a little marketing magic and help local businesses thrive.”
Having moved from London to Dorset nearly a decade ago, Rhiannon has become deeply connected to the county’s entrepreneurial spirit. Through her work as Head of Marketing at a North Dorset independent school, she’s built an extensive network and gained invaluable local insight. She knows firsthand the challenges that small businesses face in navigating digital marketing and social media, especially without the support of a large agency.
“I love Dorset! It’s full of incredible festivals and events all summer long, and the market towns are lined gloriously with independent retailers & businesses,” says Rhiannon. “The entrepreneurial community here is like no other. But the problem every passionate business owner faces is how to scale when you’re already working around the clock!”
From brand strategy and social media expertise to campaign management, Wunderdog combines big-brand thinking with local knowledge—no fluff, no massive price tags, just real results and a genuine partnership.
“I want to work with businesses that have big ambitions,” says Rhiannon. “We’ve got all the marketing tricks to help them grow, and I can’t wait to play a part in their story!”
So what’s in the name? ‘Wunderdog celebrates the underdog spirit! Everyone loves a story of grit, determination, and victory, don’t they? I’m sure most small business owners are having a ‘Rocky’ moment most days…hence the name’.
Attitude of a champion, hustle like an underdog.
So, if you’re a driven local business owner looking to boost your brand and light up your socials, Wunderdog could be the partner you’ve been waiting for. Get in touch quickly, as we think they might be inundated fairly soon!
The holiday season is a time for celebration, connection and often indulgence. But for many it’s also a time of stress when it comes to maintaining those health goals. The good news is that it is entirely possible to enjoy festive treats, celebrate with loved ones and emerge in January still feeling great. Here’s how:
1. Plan ahead without being rigid
The holiday season is filled with unpredictable schedules, but a bit of planning can help. If you know you’ll have a big dinner or party, balance your day by eating lighter nutrient-dense meals beforehand, but don’t turn up to an event starving or you will overeat. Focus on protein, fibre and healthy fats to keep you satisfied and avoid overindulging later. But don’t aim for perfection, leave some room for flexibility to enjoy the festivities.
2. Prioritise protein and fibre
Festive buffets and parties often feature carb-heavy high-calorie options. Combat this by filling half your plate with vegetables and lean proteins before diving into the indulgent side dishes. Protein helps stabilise blood sugar and makes you feel fuller, while fibre help slow digestion, keeping hunger at bay.
3. Embrace mindful eating
Mindful eating is a powerful tool. Instead of piling your plate high, start with smaller portions. Take your time to enjoy the flavours, textures and aromas of your food. Put your fork down between bites and check in with yourself, are you still hungry or just eating out of habit? This approach lets you savour every bite without overdoing it.
4. Stay active in festive ways
Physical activity doesn’t have to take a backseat during the holidays. Incorporate movement into the fun, go for a family walk after meals, participate in winter sports or even dance at holiday parties. These activities not only help burn calories but also help to create cherished memories.
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Alcohol and sugary drinks flow freely during the holidays, but staying hydrated with water is essential. Start your day with a big glass of water and alternate alcoholic or sweet drinks with water throughout the evening. This not only keeps you hydrated but also helps you pace yourself with calorific beverages and keeps the cravings at bay.
6. Choose your indulgences wisely
It’s impossible (and unnecessary) to avoid every treat, but being selective is obviously key. Love your aunt’s famous pie or the cocktail your friend makes? If you love it, have it! But skip the treats that don’t truly excite you. This strategy ensures you indulge in what you love without overdoing it.
7. Manage stress and sleep
This time of year, can be hectic, but stress and lack of sleep can drive overeating. Prioritise rest and find ways to manage stress, like meditation, deep breathing or setting boundaries around your time. A well-rested, calm mind makes it easier to make healthy choices.
8. Keep a long-term perspective
One or two indulgent meals won’t ruin your health goals, it’s the patterns that matter. Focus on consistency, not perfection. Remember, the holidays are about joy and connection, not deprivation.
By planning, choosing your indulgences wisely, and staying active, you can navigate the season with balance. Enjoy the festivities, make meaningful memories, and head into the new year feeling your best!
