Two slivers of clementine and one roast potato: Welcome to Ozempic-inspired Christmas dinners
I I watched as slivers of beetroot, celery and clementine were placed in front of me in the most indulgent and tiny three-course meal I had ever seen. This was my new Christmas dinner for today.
Like many families, my festive lunches have always included indulgence, a key ingredient of Christmas; albeit a bit unorthodox in that we were joined by a vegan, a few veggies and a few indifferent carnivores.
Except this year, tolerance may be disappearing. Is he guilty? It is none other than the humble weight loss injection. Afterwards suggested predictions The nature of Christmas dinner is changing as up to 1.4 million Britons start taking the GLP-1 drug.
The reason is simple: Patients want to eat less. GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, work by targeting hormones in the gut and brain that affect appetite and feelings of fullness. But a Christmas free of overeating (and sometimes over-drinking) can be a nerve-wracking thought for buyers and homeowners alike.
I found myself eating Christmas dinner at a pop-up event in London, emaciated beyond recognition. Offered as a chance for hosts and GLP-1 wearers to take inspiration from a pared-down festive menu designed by celebrity chef Jack Stein, the message was clear: weight loss shots are here to stay and our Christmas tables need to be adapted accordingly.
But for those of us who still have our appetites, it’s hard to imagine not piling on the festive plate. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect; Should I come half full anyway? Or would an Ozempik dinner be enough to satisfy my hunger?
The answer was a brutal no. As soon as my first course arrived—a brightly acidic pickled onion atop five rounds of thinly sliced beets—I wished I’d decided to smoke a pack of Hula Hoops beforehand.
When my vegan main course was delivered, six tender cubes of tempeh atop a round piece of celery, I regretted not eating a whole sandwich beforehand. By the time I got to dessert (two slices of clementine, half covered in dark chocolate), I knew I was being optimistic, thinking I could get away with no cooking that night.
But despite my growling stomach, the food was undoubtedly delicious. The mushroom wellington, stuffing, and fries (my usual meatless holiday treat) are savory but still delicious. And above all, it gave me an insight into the reality of life in GLP-1s; Your meals may be smaller in size, but they don’t have to be tasteless.
“It was really challenging, but it was a lot of fun to put together,” Mr. Stein, whose father is chef Rick Stein, said when recalling creating the menu. “Once you’re used to using butter and cream, it can be really difficult to add a lot of flavor to the dish.”
Having to move away from traditional, fatty, calorie-laden ingredients that make weight-loss drug users nauseous, he said, has allowed him to use “hidden secrets” to create light, delicious foods: think Marmite, soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar.
“It’s a bit like a tasting menu,” he said. “You don’t necessarily want to eat this small piece of food as a main course, but as a small meal it’s packed with flavor and low in calories.”
Classifying food is one thing, but the politics of a Christmas dinner table can be something else entirely. Kirsten Davies, a nutritionist at private weight management service CheqUp, said that for some, having a relative taking weight-loss pills at the table could leave others feeling “judged”. At other tables, the person taking the medicine may hesitate to leave food on his plate.
“When families get together, stress always arises,” she said. “Then you have the added pressure around food, body image and diet.”
He recommended cooking the same food as usual, but giving people the freedom to serve themselves to avoid any awkwardness in portion policy.
“I actually think a Christmas dinner is a really healthy meal if you do it right,” Ms Davies said. Independent. “The basics of a good diet are a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and starchy carbohydrates.
“The only thing you need to think about when using this medication is portion sizes because you want to get all these nutrients.”
Amie Parry-Jones, who runs Surrey Nutrition, agreed that serving meals “family style” could give those taking GLP-1 medication more freedom to control their own portions.
“Some people don’t want to disclose that they’re taking medication to lose weight for fear of being judged, because they may worry they’ll be questioned about their changed eating and drinking habits,” he explained.
“Others often don’t want to appear rude or ‘boring’ by not drinking alcohol if that’s what’s expected of them. But whether they’re on a weight-loss medication or not, everyone has the right to set boundaries and prioritize their own health by saying ‘no thank you.’
“Being open and honest with the host can often feel like a relief and help people get used to it.”
Many GLP-1 users will spend their first Christmas on the drug this year and will have to weigh up how they will play out the festive season. Leanne Richardson, 41, from Yorkshire, is one of them. She began her weight loss journey in January, losing 33 lbs (about 15 kg) while taking medication, documenting her experience along the way to followers of her TikTok account.
He said he planned to eat everything he had eaten before, just less of it.
“For me, this Christmas will be about everything in moderation,” he said. “I’ll have my normal Christmas dinner and if I want anything after that, I’ll have it. It won’t be excessive.”
She told me that she always struggles with feelings of guilt and shame around food at Christmas, but this year she hopes to be more “in control” around Mounjaro.
“I feel stronger,” he said. “I think it’s going to be the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”
