TOP 5 TIPS to ensure you enjoy Christmas!

The festive season can be an indulgent time when it comes to eating. But Christmas is also a magical time of year. For some, it’s also an excuse to totally ditch the regular diet and exercise routines. And, althoughit’s tempting in the moment to over-indulge, it’s an annual traditionyour waistline (and digestive system) could probably do without!

Research shows that adults alone will eat an extra 2,410 calories aday over Christmas, with many eating a whopping 4,350-calorieroast dinner on the big day itself. Rich puddings and cakes, bottomless tins of chocolates, roasties and bubbles can see some people put on 2lbs between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

So here are some of my tips that will help you over Christmas

1. Don’t try to diet

Don’t try to diet over the festive period. Set a maintenance goal instead. This is more realistic and much more achievable. This will give you the freedom to enjoy yourself without the feelings of deprivation or the pressure to rebel…!

2. Exercise at Christmas

Make the effort to continue with your exercise programme. If your usual classes aren’t running, choose other options instead e.g. brisk walks with friends and family

3. Drink plenty of water over Christmas

Drink plenty of water. This will encourage you not to overeat and will also improve how you
feel the next day!

4. Watch Portion Sizes

Watch your portion sizes – particularly fast release carbohydrates and fats.

5. Have Fun

When it comes to food at Christmas try these quick wins!!

Christmas Breakfast ideas

QUICK & EASY OMLETTES
• Bacon & cherry tomato (2 eggs).
• Lean organic ham with red and yellow peppers (2 eggs)
Antioxidant rich, tasty and filling.
• Smoked salmon & cherry tomato & chives (2 eggs)
• Fresh mushroom and cream cheese (2 eggs) Lightly fry the mushrooms in a small saucepan using a little milk and then add 1
tbsp cream cheese. Meanwhile, cook the omlette and then add the mushroom filling, sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, fold and serve.
Toss a couple of slices of red pepper or tomatoes & cucumber onto the side of plate for decoration and fibre! This is also a good option for a quick evening meal when you are tired and don’t feel like cooking.

LOW GL CHRISTMAS PLATTER

You can use any combination of low GL fresh foods to make a quick, colourful, nutritious continental style breakfast such as:
• 1 slice of lean ham (ideally organic), 2 sliced tomatoes with 1 sliced apple or pear, with 8 – 10 cashew nuts or almonds and a
few cherries.
• 1 kiwi fruit with 1 thin slice of cheddar or swiss cheese, 5 pecans, 5 or 6 cherry tomatoes and 1 fresh apricot
• Half a punnet of blueberries or strawberries, a handful of pumpkin seeds, 5 macadamia nuts, sliced cucumber and 1 pear.
• 2 slices of lean ham with 1 oatcake lightly spread with cream cheese, 1 sliced tomato and 2 fresh plums
• A large slice of watermelon with 1 slice of swiss cheese, 1 small apple and a few cashew nuts or almonds

Christmas lunch

Starters to Avoid at Christmas

Bread
Pastry based starters
Paté

Starters to choose at Christmas

Melon & Parma ham
Soups
Smoked salmon & salad

Mains to avoid at Christmas

Stuffing
Too many roast potatoes
Too many parsnips
Sweet redcurrant jelly

Mains to choose at Christmas

Turkey
Chestnuts (good alternative to
stuffing and great as a snack),
2 or 3 roasted new potatoes,
steamed veg (half your plate) and
cranberry sauce

Puddings to avoid at Christmas

Christmas pudding / cake
Sorbet
Cheese & crackers

Puddings to choose at Christmas

Vanilla ice cream
Cheese & Oatcakes (small portion)
Low GL puds from Cookbook
See low GL Christmas cake recip

Serve roasted butternut squash and new potatoes instead of potatoes and parsnips.
Make your own cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries, fresh orange juice and xylitol
If your meat is not organically farmed, discard the saturated fat from the juices by quick freezing the juices and spooning off the solidified fat.
You won’t notice any difference in flavour, but you will feel more comfortable after the meal by not consuming so much fat!
Remembering the rule that 50% of your plate should be kept for non-starchy veg.
Roasted onions make a great accompaniment to your meal and are naturally low GL. Use a chestnut based stuffing.

If you enjoyed these tips you can read more here

Christmas Survival – Top Tips