December 15, 2025
by James Leonard M. Bautista, AMT
Are you eating to celebrate or to give up?
When the holidays come, they don’t just knock on the door; they kick it open and bring lechon, sweets, and the dangerous lie of “It’s just once.” You should only indulge once a day. By January, every day becomes regretful.
December in the Philippines is less of a season and more of a long, delicious, calorie-packed endurance test. We officially enter Feast Mode as soon as the first Simbang Gabi alarm goes off. This isn’t just normal eating; it’s a cultural duty that comes from puto bumbong, creamy spaghetti, and endless rounds of lechon. Every family reunion, every work party, and every surprise pasalubong brings us closer to the inevitable regret of New Year’s Day. The worst part of Christmas isn’t the traffic; it’s stepping on the scale in January and seeing you’ve gained a sack of Noche Buena groceries. Forget about the sad “diet” this year. We’re using Noche Buena Ninja strategies are humorous and full of clever tactics, enabling us to enjoy every spoonful of queso de bola without the need to purchase a new, larger shirt or dress for the upcoming year.
The first fight starts right after the morning services. The steaming plate of kakanin, which includes bibingka and puto bumbong, is impossible to resist. Strategic savoring is the trick, not skipping. Take a smaller piece and thoroughly enjoy the warmth and texture. Don’t drink sugary sago’t gulaman or juice with it; instead, have a simple cup of coffee or tea. This will help you avoid the sugar crash that makes you want to go back for seconds. When the parties start, keep in mind that tasty, creamy holiday drinks like Salabat or Tsokolate A can ruin your plans. Join the Tubig Troopers and drink a glass of water between every cup of punch, beer, or creamy drink. It keeps you hydrated, slows you down, and stops you from mindlessly grabbing that third handful of chicharon. But how do you politely say no to a second helping of your Tita’s famous fruit salad without hurting the feelings of the whole family? Half the battle is learning how to say no politely.
The Noche Buena spread is the ultimate challenge of the meal. We’re talking about lumpia, baked macaroni and cheese, ham, and the best part, lechon. Use the Diskarte Plate plan when you go to the buffet. First, walk around the whole spread like a pro inspector. Pick your top three ultimate favorites, the ones you can’t live without (the crispy lechon skin is a must, of course). Next, when you fill your plate, do the Rice Realignment: take less rice than you normally would. Let’s flip that around! A typical Filipino plate is 80% rice and 20% everything else. Put mostly salads, steamed vegetables (if you have any), and thin slices of ham or turkey on the plate. Finally, set aside a small, controlled space for your top three favorites. You get the taste and the richness, but you can control the volume. Keep in mind that you want quality satisfaction, not quantity regret.
The danger doesn’t end with the feast; it goes on with the pasalubong, which are the food gifts and leftovers that keep coming until mid-January. Instead of putting a plate of cookies or hamonado right next to your TV, make them a little harder to get to. Put them away, or better yet, use the Pasalubong Principle and share the love (and calories) by giving them to friends or neighbors! After a night of partying, do the Aswang Antidote: get up and move around. A quick walk around the village parol or a few rounds of karaoke and dancing are enjoyable, non-punishing ways to let your metabolism know that the party is over (for now). Thereafter, have a simple breakfast with a lot of protein, like oatmeal or egg and tomato silog. This year, we’re celebrating with all the heart, flavor, and Pinoy spirit. This indicates that you can have the best time of the year without giving up on your health goals.
And don’t forget: discipline doesn’t ruin holidays; being mindless does.
So here’s the truth: Don’t “diet” during the holidays; just don’t stop being yourself.
Enjoy the feast, be aware of your actions, and let January meet a version of you that stayed in control and had fun.