Jan 6, 2012

Detox after the holiday binge

Taken as a whole, the Italian holiday menu can defeat an elephant.

The food come initiation ritual begins as early as December 8th, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, with mugs of hot chocolate and doppia panna (double cream). Less than a week later comes Santa Lucia, she of the traditional buttery biscuits.

But Mission Impossible opens its real run on Christmas Eve, and continues through New Year's...

After the abuse, there's always a time of abdominal repose and deep repentance. But instead of fasting and making resolutions that involve promising never again to ingest anything other than liquids, I recommend you follow my "Big Eater's post-Feste Detox Ground Rules."

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8 comments:

  1. Eleonora, just reading this filled me up.

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  2. I hear you. I was surprised I only put on 1 kilo from December 15 until now. But it is true that if I take the total from December 8, that number goes up to 2 kilos...

    My detox strategy? Bacon.

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  3. you are one disciplined lady, lola ~ one glass of wine a week? clearly, i am not doing this detox thing right!

    hugs to you and little e ~ how is the book coming?

    xoxo
    amanda

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  4. Rosaria~
    I can barely move...

    Tuscan Foodie~
    ONLY 2 kilos, are you kidding me? I must have put on something like 6. Tomorrow I start the diet. Wish me luck.

    Amanda~
    I know, I'll miss the wine and cappuccinos the most. But it HAS to be done!!

    Ciao :)

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  5. Fantastic advice. I think I will take it as we've had quiet the holiday with lots of homemade panettone and fresh pastas plus a plethora of cookies from mostaccioli napoletanti to ciambelline al vino.

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  6. A little update on the "fistful" advice:

    1. Portion size: Protein (fish, meat) - should be the size of your palm; starches (rice, potatoes) - the size of your fist; fruits and veggies - put your hands together, palms up and fill it up... and rainbow fruits and veggies (a mix of different colors, is best.

    2. Protein hierarchy: "The less legs the better." Something with four legs (beef, pork, lamb) isn't as good as something with two legs (chicken, turkey) which isn't as good as something with no legs (fish).

    3. Current thinking is to eat smaller meals every three hours instead of only three big meals a day.
    Thanks Joel!

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  7. 10-12 pounds this last year. But it's now coming off slowly. Still have one bottle of Asti Spumante in the fridge, but it'll have to wait its turn.

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  8. The stuffing ritual begins as early as Dec. 8th, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, with mugs of hot chocolate and doppia panna (double cream). Less than a week later comes Santa Lucia, she of the traditional buttery biscuits. Detoxifying Your Body

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