It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… and that means December is finally here! The streets are merry and bright with festive lights, Christmas markets offer stacks of tempting treats and mince pies are back on the menu – it’s easy to see why we think it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s an extra special month for produce, too. Even if you’re not a big fan of Brussels sprouts, shopping seasonally in December will mean enjoying filling festive feasts, winter warmers and tasty treats – while still sleigh-ing your slimming goals.
As well as being an important part of any healthy diet, filling up on the freshest, tastiest fruit and veg will make losing weight a Free Food fairytale. At Slimming World, we encourage our members to enjoy fruit and vegetables without any weighing, measuring or counting, so you can enjoy as many (or as few!) Brussels sprouts as you fancy on Christmas Day.
If all you want for Christmas is the juiciest, jolliest fruit and veg (OK, so maybe there are one or two other things on the list too!), we’ve rounded up the picks of the season in our December shopping list. Take this list to market (or send it to Santa!) and fill your sack to the brim.
December fruit
Seasonal fruit is a sweet superstar that makes some super tasty Slimming World meals, from brilliant breakfasts to delightful desserts. And obviously it wouldn’t be Christmas without some juicy, ruby red cranberries to go with your turkey! Pick these seasonal superheroes and enjoy a healthy December that’s bursting with fruity flavour:
- apples (bramley, cox, gala, red pippin)
- cranberries
- pears (conference, comice, concorde)
Add a festive feel to your overnight oats with our winter-spiced hot apple pie topping – wonderful for warming even the weariest of souls on a chilly winter’s morning.
December veggies
With the nights drawing in and the weather getting chillier, at this time of year we naturally choose meals that are comforting and satisfying. The great news is that there are lots of wonderful winter veggies to cook with! Cabbage, sprouts and leeks are really good at shrugging off the winter frost, making them ideal for packing plenty of filling power into your soups, pies and pasta bakes. Fill your basket with these December veggies and dig into very merry market-fresh meals:
- Brussels sprouts
- cabbage (white & red)
- celeriac
- kale
- leeks
- parsnips
- shallots
- swedes
- turnips
Our cheese-tastic cumberland pie is the perfect use for seasonal leeks and cabbage. Mustard powder gives the mash a brilliantly warming flavour!
We’d love to see what you’ve been making with your stash of seasonal fruit and veg. Send us photos of your Slimming World-friendly December makes, bakes and snacks!