How to Eat Well Over the Holidays with Fermented Foods
The festive season is all about long meals, sweet treats and time with the people we love, and that's exactly how it should be. But after a few rich dinners in a row, many of us start craving something fresh and simple. Here's how to eat well over the holidays without missing out, with a little help from fermented foods like kimchi, tempeh and kombucha.
No strict rules, no guilt: just a few easy habits to keep your plate colourful and your meals enjoyable all the way to the new year.
Fill your plate with seasonal vegetables
The simplest way to keep festive meals balanced is to make room for plenty of vegetables, pulses and whole grains. Winter has lots to offer: root vegetables, all kinds of cabbage, squash, leeks, lentils and chickpeas. Fibre-rich foods like these are a natural part of a varied diet, and they make a festive table look generous and colourful.
Need inspiration? Have a look at the best local winter foods in Switzerland.
Add fermented foods to the festive table
Fermented foods have been part of winter tables for centuries, from sauerkraut in Switzerland to kimchi in Korea. They bring tang, crunch and depth of flavour that cut beautifully through rich dishes. Unpasteurised versions also contain live cultures, and research on fermented foods and the gut microbiome is ongoing.
A few easy ideas:
Put a bowl of kimchi on the table as a side. It pairs surprisingly well with roasted vegetables and festive gratins.
Serve sliced, pan-fried tempeh as a plant-based centrepiece or in a hearty winter dish like our Vegan Tartiflette with Tempeh.
Add a spoonful of sauerkraut or lacto-fermented vegetables to salads and sandwiches with the leftovers.
Our kimchi keeps 2 years in the fridge, so it's an easy thing to stock up on before the holidays.
Slow down and enjoy every bite
Festive meals are meant to be savoured. A few small habits can help you enjoy them more:
Take a moment before you start eating to look at what's on your plate.
Eat slowly. If it helps, put your cutlery down between bites.
Chew well and take time to really taste the food.
Sit down at the table and put the phone away.
Don't skip the aperitif if you're hungry: listen to your appetite rather than saving yourself for later.
Stop when you feel satisfied. There will be leftovers tomorrow!
Choose festive drinks with flavour
Sparkling, fruity drinks make any meal feel like a celebration. Pour a glass of kombucha or tibicos (water kefir) as an aperitif or with dinner. This season's tibicos flavours, Plum and Beetroot & Ginger, are made for winter tables. For a warm option, try our Mulled Apple Kombucha, or shake up one of our autumn tibicos mocktails.
Simple habits for the festive season
Keep a vegetable dish or salad on the table at every meal.
Swap some of the chocolates for a bowl of nuts and clementines.
Drink plenty of water between meals.
Go for a walk after a big lunch: it's a lovely winter tradition.
Try to keep a regular sleep routine.
Plan ahead to avoid last-minute stress in the kitchen.
Enjoy the moment
The most important thing at this time of year is to enjoy good food with the people you love. Indulgence is part of the fun. With colourful vegetables, a few fermented favourites and time to savour each meal, you can feel good and celebrate at the same time.
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