“it is possible to abuse it, without feeling guilty”

The holidays and their meals are not really the food disasters predicted and feared. The foods that we traditionally find on our tables, often rich and varied, bring taste pleasures, but also benefits both emotionally and nutritionally.

Who says parties, says copious meals, even indigestion and weight gain. Despite everything, certain classics of these meals are excellent for our health. And it is possible to abuse it without feeling guilty. Something to reassure yourself! In fact, smoked salmon, oysters, foie gras, shellfish, capon and even logs are not so bad for our health and our figure. Mathilde Pidoux, dietitian, helps us discover the nutritional benefits of these foods, sometimes as delicious as they are essential for our body.

Almost impossible to escape. Often composed of oysters, periwinkles, whelks and various shellfish, seafood platters are incredibly nutritionally rich. Indeed, they are full of high quality proteins, vitamin B, mineral salts such as copper, iodine, phosphorus, iron… They are naturally light foods, because there are very few lipids and of carbohydrates.

>> Listen to the podcast with Mathilde Pidoux, dietitian below.

Although it has become part of our daily diet, salmon remains a festive product. Salmon is rich in omega 3 which is essential to our cells and which protects us against cardiovascular diseases. It is part of the proteins, so it is possible to eat as much as you want, it has the power of satiety. Only the way it is served can be harmful, with bread and butter for example. The best way to eat it is to garnish it with a squeeze of lemon, on toast, on a slice of black radish or a slice of avocado.

Often thought of as a forbidden food, foie gras is also very rich in protein. Certainly, its lipid content is high, but among these lipids it contains monounsaturated fatty acids, considered protective of the body. In addition, it contains vitamin B9, which is excellent for the cardiovascular system. It is also very rich in iron. Knowing that we only eat a small portion, let's treat ourselves.

They are the flagship accompaniment of traditional Christmas cuisine. They are prepared in all forms, steamed, stuffed for poultry, or pureed. This allows us to add fiber to our meals for better digestion. It is a food rich in starch which in addition to having a low glycemic index is a good supplier of energy. For those with a sweet tooth, they are disguised as candied chestnuts, to be enjoyed after New Year's Eve dinner, during coffee time.

It's no secret: dark chocolate is excellent for your health. But not just any one. Indeed, chocolate bites provide a lot of calories. Generally composed of a chocolate envelope and a ganache filling, the preparations are fatty and sweet. The right thing to do is to have quality chocolate to benefit from added health benefits.

It can be used in the traditional log, but to avoid overconsumption of sugar, Sandrine Baumann-Hautin, healthy pastry chef, gives us some tips, such as reducing the quantity of sugar in the recipe, using wholemeal or semi-wholemeal flour. .

To end on a light note, exotic fruits, especially passion fruit or lychee, are excellent for our health. In addition to being in the notion of sharing, they are very nutritious and contain antioxidants. Preferably, choose passion fruit with bumpy, wrinkled skin, which indicates that the fruit is ripe and flavorful. As for lychee, it is very rich in vitamin C which helps fight against skin aging. To be enjoyed whole or in a fruit salad, garnished with vanilla, spices or aromatic herbs such as mint.

Party foods, in addition to being tasty, play an important role in culture, togetherness and emotional well-being. Although it is important to consume these foods in moderation, their values ​​are not limited to their nutritional aspects. They enrich our lives with their ability to bring people together, create memories and celebrate.

Find the entire show Hauts feminine with Mathilde Pidoux, dietician and the other episodes of the show on france.tv and podcast.