How to deal with the disappointment of cancelling your Christmas plans
For weeks we've been told that the struggles of lockdown and restrictions will all be worth it when we save Christmas. But now, it looks like that rescue mission might be unsuccessful and it's left us all feeling disappointed, hopeless and wondering when the uncertainty will end.
Following yesterday's announcement you may be facing the prospect of scrapping the Christmas plans you were so looking forward to. It's hard not to feel deflated or even devastated, but one way to deal with feelings of sadness is to focus on the good you're doing, as opposed to what you're missing.
In other words, reframe your thoughts around Christmas.
One of the big feelings around this sudden change in Christmas covid restrictions is that you're letting down loved ones. You know that they know this is out of your control, but there's a strange sense of guilt in not seeing family over the festive period. Mitigate this by practicing thoughts around 'I'm not letting anyone down, I am being responsible and it won't be long before I can see you all again'. Positive thoughts can lift your mood and remove the feelings of guilt
If you are alone, or with a smaller party than planned, make your space as cosy and festive as you can, sort out your food plans and think of things you can do that bring you genuine joy.
Staying connected is very important, so set up Zoom calls and talk to loved ones on line.
And of course, if you are having a different style of Christmas this year, it's a great opportunity to try out some new recipes. So we've put together some innovative ideas for Brussel sprouts that are genuinely delicious - we promise.
Brussel sprouts - love them or hate them?
We suspect that many of you harbour negative feelings due to the ‘boil to death’ cooking method used during our youth for Brussel sprouts.
Why not try one of our fabulous Brussel sprouts recipes, which not only champion this underrated vegetable but also feature some flavours you wouldn’t normally associate with sprouts. Both of these recipes come in at less than 250 calories per portion too!
Sprout Salad - serves 2
10 Brussel sprouts, finely sliced
50g red cabbage, finely sliced
1 handful spinach
½ avocado, chopped
1 spring onion, finely sliced
10g pomegranate seeds
Dressing - whisk together
½ tsp dijon
½ tsp honey
½ tbsp olive oil
1 tsp white wine vinegar
Simply mix all of your ingredients together for a fresh, crunchy salad.
Alternatively, try this delicious Asian tray bake which goes beautifully with some grilled fish, chicken or tofu for a healthier take on dinner. Even better, this recipe uses the often discarded broccoli stalk which is just as good as the florets!
200g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
The stalk of a broccoli, outer layer removed and cut into chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
Handful of chopped coriander
Marinade - mix together in a small bowl
2 tsp peanut butter
2 tsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp water
2 tsp sesame oil
2cm chunk of ginger, grated
½ tsp garlic powder / 1 clove garlic, minced
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Spread the carrots and onion over a large roasting tray with a drizzle of oil and roast for 15 mins. After this time is up, add the Brussels sprouts and broccoli then drizzle over the marinade, making sure everything is well covered. Return to the oven for a further ten minutes.