It is scary to think that Christmas is now just 10 days away! But you should not be scared about putting on weight over the festive season (this is where I come in!).
• Use a smaller plate at lunches and dinners, instead of having a huge plate full of food. Take small amounts of different dishes to get a good variety of vitamins and minerals. Aim to fill half of this plate with salad and vegetables too!
• Choose healthy nibbles. Pita bread with vegetable sticks and dips, bowls of cherries and grapes, and air popped popcorn will avoid filling up on chips and salty nuts before your meals.
• Eat a healthy meal or snack before Christmas parties or lunches. If you are starving beforehand, you are much more likely to overeat! Avoid deep fried appetisers at events too.
• Alternate your drinks, whether it be alcohol, juices or soft drinks, with a glass of water to keep you hydrated. Also important so you don’t mistake your thirst for hunger.
• Keep your vegetables as raw as possible and reduce fats buy making healthy salads to serve with roast meats instead of heavy roasted vegetables. You could also steam vegetables instead of roasting them to keep in as much of their nutrients as possible. You may also consider grilling some vegetables on the BBQ for some variety.
• Speaking of the BBQ, grilling meat and seafood will reduce the fat in your meals in comparison to a traditional roast.
• Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits for dessert instead of big servings of puddings and cakes. Have some fruit first, and if still hungry after, treat yourself to a small portion of your favourite Christmas treat.
• Give away leftovers if the Christmas celebrations are at your house – this will save you picking at leftover puddings and desserts for the days after! Alternatively, if you are elsewhere for Christmas meals, don’t take any leftovers home, reducing the temptation to eat rubbish for the week after.
• Cutting down on alcohol isn’t as hard as it sounds! If you normally drink every night, cut down (or even better – cut out) on weeknights, so you can enjoy a few drinks at your events instead. This will save you lots of kilojoules so your hard work at the gym doesn’t go to waste
Following these healthy eating tips will keep you feeling great over the Christmas break!
