Welcome to Hip & Healthy’s 12 days of FITMAS! What is this, you might ask? For the 12 days leading up to Christmas day, we’re giving you a little insight into how some of our favourite wellness influencers are spending Christmas, their favourite parts of the festive season and little nuggets of wisdom!

On the 4th day of FITMAS, Venetia Falconer is sharing her festive traditions and best moments of 2017!

How do you avoid over-indulgence during the festive period?
I try to stick to three meals each day to avoid feeling like an over-fed turkey/beached whale hybrid (twhale?). But I always allow myself treats, so there will just be slightly more chocolate involved than usual!

What do you eat on Christmas day?
Christmas Day for me starts with chocolate porridge (recipe on my blog!) and then a nut roast with all the trimmings for lunch. My mum now makes her Christmas pudding vegan (what a legend) so I’ll have a good slice of that with the Booja Booja ice cream for dessert. Dinner is usually a little lighter, maybe some soup and toast – and of course leftovers, followed by lots of tea and chocolate.

Cold Christmas or hot Christmas?
I’ve never had a hot Christmas (woe is me), but I passionately hate snow. In view of this, I’m going to say: cold but sunny – ‘crisp’, if you will.

What’s been your best moment of 2017?
My best moment of 2017 had to be my trip to Sri Lanka with my boyfriend. For one part of it, we stayed in a provincial guest house run by a lovely local family. It was right in the jungle and we were surrounded by the most incredible fresh produce (papayas, pineapple, avocados – you name it) and monkeys swinging through the trees – heaven!

A Christmas gift to our readers?
Please go forth and binge my podcast ‘Talking Tastebuds’. I’m pretty certain that if you’re on this website, you’ll like it. Season’s greetings!! Xxx