Aside from avoiding food altogether this Christmas, try these handy tips to keep the weight off, and avoid giving into temptation.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Plan ahead: Tucking into a Christmass feast later on? Plan a day of smaller meals beforehand and avoid between-meal treats.<\/p>
\u2022 Chocolate box gifts: Never have more than one box of chocolates open at a time, and keep unopened boxes out of sight. They won\u2019t go off – stagger them over the next few months if necessary.<\/p>\n
\u2022 At the Christmas buffet: Do not hover by the buffet table. Make your selection then step away from the table. Think about what you\u2019re putting on your plate \u2013 make it one portion and do not make repeat visits. Choose a smaller, dessert-sized plate, and avoid the high saturated fat offerings like sausage rolls and quiche. Instead load up on fruit, skinless chicken and vegetables.<\/p>
\u2022 At work: If everyone brings in Christmas goodies to share, make your contribution festive, but healthy, and eat that rather than the high-calorie communal chocolate and mince pies.<\/p>\n
\u2022 At the supermarket: make a shopping list and stick to it. Avoid the aisles of temptation and make your Christmas snacks plain popcorn, pretzels and vegetable crudit\u00e9s with a low-fat dip.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The bird: turkey is a great source of protein and a low-fat meat. Most of the fat that is present in a cooked turkey will be found in the skin. So don\u2019t eat the skin.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Perfect portions. Even on Christmas Day, when turkey, stuffing, potatoes and rolls are begging to be eaten, make sure vegetables take up one-third of the space on your dinner plate. If you\u2019re in charge of cooking, steam veg where possible or use only a small amount of water. Brussel sprouts, peas and carrots can all be served unbuttered. Use the veg water for gravy and any leftover vegetables in a delicious soup to help fill you up and keep down the calorie count in the days after Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Healthy options: want to keep the calories down even further? Try dry roasting potatoes on a non-stick baking sheet, or use an oil spray instead of smothering them in fat. You can also make gravy using vegetable stock instead of meat juices, accompanied by a fruit-based stuffing.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bottoms down: who doesn\u2019t drink more at Christmas? At the very least, steer clear of sweet cocktails and creamy liqueurs. Have a glass of water after every alcoholic drink, to keep down the calorie count. It also has the benefit of leaving you with a clearer head the next morning.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Pie wise: the average mince pie contains around 250 calories and that\u2019s before you\u2019ve added cream or brandy butter. Can\u2019t resist this Christmas treat? Always remove the lid to cut its calorie-count.<\/p>\n
Remember moderation, most specialists encourage you to eat what you want as long as you don\u2019t overdo it.<\/p>\n
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