It's that party season again! How can we avoid putting on extra weight while having a great time?
Christmas need not mean the end of your diet or a
struggle through January to compensate. There are ways to keep your diet
healthy during the Christmas season.
Keeping things in moderation is a major key to the Christmas
overeating issue. It is easy to say “eat and drink in moderation”, here are
some ideas for moderating what you eat this festive season.
- Use a smaller plate ~ your mind will consider it a full plate regardless of its size!
- Don't go to a party hungry: we often eat faster and more when we are hungry - therefore eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day to avoid overeating at the party.
- Eat a healthy breakfast on Christmas morning. Include at least one fruit or vegetable and some protein such as eggs or nuts. This will help stave off hunger and prevent overeating high-calorie snacks while waiting for the big lunch or dinner to be served.
- Where there are choices, take a little of many things rather than lots of one thing. This ensures you are getting a balanced meal and not overloading on a fatty food.
- Supply a fruit platter or fresh fruit salad ~ a hot Christmas day makes this most appealing!
- Consume a healthy snack or small meal every three to four hours throughout the day. This helps keep blood sugar levels stable and is much healthier than consuming a single large meal.
- Make your own mixed drinks with real fruit juice instead of canned drink.
- Many products such as mayonnaise, cheese, cream soup, sour cream have lower-fat versions so experiment with them in your cooking.
- For every glass of
alcohol or soft drink, have a glass of water. Water fills you up, has no
calories or side effects, is cheap and will help wash out the excesses. Remember: Calories
from alcohol tend to be stored in the abdomen. People who are overweight actually
gain weight more easily when they consume alcohol.
Drink plenty of water: alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body
- Help clear the table as soon as everyone finished eating rather than sitting and picking at leftovers.
- Pack a snack to bring with you in case you can't find anything healthy to nibble on between meals. An apple or orange and a small bag of nuts makes a good portable snack.
- Salad dressings can liven up a salad without adding calories. Try lemon or lime juice, vinegar (many types!) and fresh herbs.
- Load your plate with healthy options first. Instead of heading straight for the calorie and fat-laden side dishes, choose some lean turkey or chicken and vegetables for your first plateful. You can have some higher-calorie options when you're ready for seconds and already somewhat full.
- Trim as much fat as possible from meat before cooking. Make a conscious choice to limit high fat items: high fat food items can be found in fried food, cream-based soup, cheese-filled casseroles, pies, processed meats such as salami and sausages, some pastries and baked goods. Serve some fresh fish or seafood instead of roast red meat
- This is a good opportunity to make Christmas a bit different this year ~ for instance, try a picnic this year with lots of salads rather than huge roasts or do an activity with friends instead of having a Christmas drinks night.
- Instead of a bowl of lollies or chocolates for guests, why not have a bowl of cherries or grapes?
- Watch your portion: treat yourself a nice drink, dessert, chocolate or sweets without guilt, but always watch your portion. Go for small portions. This way you can sample all the different foods. Moderation is always the key.
- Physical activity: take nice brisk walks with your loved ones and enjoy their company in the holiday season.
DIET365GLOBAL Wishes you a Happy Holiday Season.
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