The Christmas party season is upon us and this can be a make or break time for our diet. With both food and drink flowing, how can you be sure that this party season can be a diet-maker and not a diet-breaker?
For party food; although it can be tempting to sample it all, with a few tips you can go to the party without ruining your diet.
Never arrive hungry to a party this will only lead you to become a permanent fixture beside the food and will cause you to overindulge.
Move away from the food table. Fill your plate once, this will mean that there is less chance of mindless nibbling.
Choose what to eat carefully, steer clear of anything deep fried or pastry laden such as sausage rolls, crispy wontons, or spring rolls. Instead opt for lean beef, chicken, turkey, smoked salmon, salads without mayo, and breads without butter. Choose salsa or low fat vingerettes for dressings.
Make sure to dance, if appropriate! The exercise will help you burn off anything you’ve eaten.
For the booze; everyone may seem intent on making the party ‘go with a swing’. But remember this won’t do much for the waistline – a pint has approximately 220kcals, wine approximately 100kcals per small glass, and spirits about 60kcals per measure.
Some tips to counteract this:
Mix white wine with soda water or diet lemonade to make it last twice as long and halve the calories.
Beware of alco-pops which are loaded with calories; they also taste like pop so you may end up drinking large amounts of them (ooh my head the next morning! )
Watch out for home-made measures for spirits they can be bigger, way bigger than pub measures.
Mix spirits with low-cal mixers such as diet cola, diet lemonade, or slim line tonic.
With cocktails choose with care – avoid anything with cream, coconut milk, or syrupy juices. Also the more shots a cocktail contains the more alcohol and the more calories.
Lastly remember to sip!
Most people will put on a few pounds over Christmas but with the festive season stretching over a longer period each year, the trick is not to gain pounds at every event!
