5 Tips for Surviving the Silly Season

Health Mates dietitian Rebecca Gawthorne gives you a few tips on how to maintain your health and weight this silly season, without missing out on the things you love!

1. Plan for the Christmas festive season

If you keep your eating regime relatively strict until at least a week before Christmas, you will eliminate a lot of extra calories and be in a great position for the New Year. Then you can enjoy Christmas guilt free.

2. Don’t go overboard on cheese, crackers and dip

To work off even a few slices of full-fat cheese, plus crackers and dip, you will need to do about 45 minutes of cycling at a moderate pace.

3. Succeed with salads

Fill up on low-kilojoule foods such as salad to reduce the amount you eat when celebrating this festive season. Serve the salad onto your plate first, making it fill at least half your plate. Avoid the mayo and creamy salad dressings and make your own using healthy olive oil vinegar, mustard and pepper.

4. Exchange drinks for kilometres

Make a deal with yourself for drinks this Christmas. For every alcoholic drink you plan on drinking, you walk or run a kilometre that day. A good incentive not to drink too much! You can be smart in your coices too. Beers with a lower alcohol content, such as light or mid-strength, are a better choice, as are vodka, lime and soda instead of creamy cocktails.

5. Don’t help yourself to every sweet that passes your way

Choose one or two of your favourite treats this Christmas and enjoy these guilt free, but remember to use your will power to resist the rest. If you are given a box of chocolates, keep them hidden away until you have friends over to share them with, or pick certain days such as the weekend to indulge in a few.