It’s all too easy to over-eat over the holidays, bemoaning the groan of the scales when January hits; the lure of lazy days spent in the sun, with easy-to-reach snacks and sugary drinks are often the biggest culprit of weight gain. Stay mindful of potential “danger areas” and prevent the festive build-up by following these simple tips.
1. Swap it out
By making subtle changes to what you eat, you can stave off unwanted pounds yet still feel like you’re living your best holiday life. Turkey meat is genuinely lower on calories so it’s worth sticking with it as your meat of choice for the season. Love a glass of wine? Why not try a low-calorie alternative or better still, one of our low-calorie cocktail recipes? Look for baked, not fried crisps and save money by making your own dips to go with it. Love your roast potatoes? Make them out of sweet potato, with a pinch of paprika and dried herbs on top.
2.Don’t fill up on empty calories
Mince pies, boxes of chocolates, pumpkin fritters, fizzy drinks – all the deliciously naughty things we fill up on take up space that should be reserved for the good-for-you foods. We believe in a little indulgence, and you’ll find us snacking on a cheeky ice cream at the beach, but the key is always moderation. Keep your figure by watching what you consume and when, staying away from heavy carbs after 7pm, and drinking lots of water in-between meals, to beat the urge to snack.
3. Keep active
Instead of sitting around watching re-runs of series, keep your feet moving with a brisk walk or short run. You can even make it a sociable activity by encouraging your friends and family to join you on a stroll around your local park. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring and there are numerous YouTube channels with quick and easy workouts that you can do in the privacy of your own home.
4. Watch your portion size
Stay clear of piling your plate high over Christmas as you’ll be tempted to eat all of it even though your body doesn’t need to. Sometimes it helps to use a smaller plate, or to think of these serving suggestion sizes when plating up:
- 1 palm-sized portion of protein
- 1 fist-sized portion of vegetables
- 1 cupped hand serving of carbohydrates
- 1 thumb-sized serving of fats
By not over serving yourself, you’re eating what your body requires, rather than what your eyes require.
