For most people, Christmas is one of the few days of the year when diet goes out the window – but that’s not the case for these wellness enthusiasts.
DailyMail.com spoke with three individuals — a vegan, a biohacker and an Ozempic user — to find out what those committed to a certain lifestyle plan on eating on Christmas Day.
While all say they will find room for mashed potatoes and desserts, staples like turkey will be left off their plates. And all three say they will limit their alcohol intake.
A study by Wren Kitchens found the average person eats 5,370 calories on Christmas day, twice the recommended daily value for men and three times that for women.
This gluttony would take nearly nine days of non-stop walking for someone to burn off.
But as many will pile their plates high, the Ozempic user said he wouldn’t eat a portion of meat larger that what could fit in the palm of his hand, while the biohacker insisted any meat he would consume needs to be grass-fed.
Below, DailyMail.com reveals what Christmas dinner will look like for people following popular diets.
Biohacker
Dave Asprey claims to have founded biohacking, a lifestyle that aims to reduce a person’s biological age and optimize all aspects of their health, such as cognition and athletic ability.
Unlike many American families who consume turkey on Christmas day, Mr Asprey did away with the tradition 15 years ago.
Instead, he cooks a ribeye roast — a nearly 7lb piece of beef taken from the rib section of a cow — for his girlfriend, two teens and friends.
The meat must be grass-fed, which some studies suggest contains more nutrients – including two to six times more omega-3 fatty acids, which are said to improve health, brain and joint health.
He adds sprigs of rosemary and oregano, with both previously lauded for longevity benefits.
To start his meal, Ms Asprey serves Scallops wrapped in bacon
And to accompany the main dish, he offers vegetables, including cauliflower with butter and pecorino cheese, shiitake mushrooms, red cabbage, leeks and will even have a few potatoes as a cheat treat.
His guests are encouraged to eat the protein first, which Mr Asprey says can help reduce blood sugar spikes, before starting on the vegetables.
For desert, he serves a coconut milk-based ice cream with a homemade pumpkin pie.
Making dishes himself is essential to avoiding additives, he told DailyMail.com.
Grocery store-bought pumpkin pies often contain Xanthan gum, an emulsifier linked to colon cancer, and artificial colorings like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, linked to hyperactivity in children.
For drinks, the family may open one bottle of organic red wine or sake from Japan, but he says they generally avoid alcohol, which is essential to avoid feeling unwell the next day.
‘When you feel unwell, such as hungover, you’re more likely not to be nice to others,’ he said, ‘whereas if you aren’t that leads to a better atmosphere’.
Drinking plenty of water is encouraged.
Mr Asprey also emphasized the importance of his guests coming together at Christmas, with everyone pitching in to help prepare the food.
‘It is very important in my house for everyone to pitch in making the meal in some way,’ he said. ‘That means everyone feels more included and it builds a real sense of community.’
Ozempic
Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs like Wegovy have taken the US by storm, with estimates suggesting up to six percent of Americans – or 19million people – are currently using the drugs.
They work by suppressing appetite, causing someone to eat less and, as a result, lose weight.
But experts say it is essential for people to make sure they are consuming enough nutrients while they are on the drug, and to follow a high-protein diet – which can help to preserve essential muscle mass while burning fat.
Some experts suggest this can also help people avoid regaining the weight they’ve lost, with a study from this year finding the majority of people who stop taking semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — regained two thirds of the weight they had lost.
Sam Tejada, who previously used Ozempic and Mounjaro to lose 60lbs and now advises hundreds of people on the drug, said Ozempic users should still eat on Christmas day.
He said an Ozempic user should have as much turkey as can fit in the palm of their hand, and then two palm-sized helpings of vegetables covering the colors of the rainbow.
‘It is likely they will feel full before they finish this,’ he said, ‘with some people not able to manage anywhere near this much while on the drug’.
‘But it is important to consume the food in order to help with maintaining muscle mass.’
He also emphasized to Ozempic users that it was important to remain hydrated throughout the day.
In the spirit of the festivities, says Ozempic users can allow themselves a few treats at Christmas time
However, he does advise they keep away from ‘heavy foods’ that are high in fat, including eggnog, and carbohydrates, like potatoes, saying these will make people feel nauseated and sluggish.
Vegan
Dr Michael Greger is a top researcher in the longevity space, providing daily tips on extending a person’s healthy lifespan. He is also a vegan and does not eat any animal-derived foods, such as milk, cheese, steak or lamb chops.
This holiday season, Dr Greger told DailyMail.com the first rule to remember is there is no need to follow a strict meal plan at Christmas, and that it is important to sometimes relax restrictions.
Nonetheless, he revealed that instead of the traditional turkey his family dines on Seitan.
Seitan is a popular meat substitute and it made from gluten — the main protein in wheat.
‘It’s probably disappointing to a meat eater,’ he said, ‘but I haven’t eaten meat for 30 years now and I love it’.
Not only does he dig into seitan because it is a heathy meat alternative, but because the food is versatile, it can sometimes resemble meat loaf, which his family has fond memories of eating during the holidays.
Unlike the other dieters, he does eat a traditional stuffing – which can be made using wild rice and breadcrumbs.
For the sides, their family keeps with tradition and eats sweet potatoes and white potatoes, and for dessert they have a traditional homemade pumpkin pie.
Similar to the biohacker and Ozempic user, Dr Greger’s family avoids alcohol on holidays.
Dr Greger says he and his family don’t drink substances that could give them cancer – and some studies have linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of the disease.
Instead, they consume hot chocolate and a non-alcoholic spiced apple cider with cloves and cinnamon.
