Guilt-free Christmas eating

Want to fit into your work gear next year? Follow these 5 tips to a guilt-free holiday season.

One Christmas dinner isn’t going to blow my waistline… right? It’s true, one day won’t do much harm but—and you may already be experiencing this—Christmas Day often becomes more like Christmas Month! Social occasions add up and belt notches loosen. However, these simple tricks will help you enjoy the holiday season guilt free.

1. Start the day right Breakfast kickstarts your day and prevents grazing later on. Some favourites include: ü Wholegrain toast with: eggs & spinach/ peanut butter & sliced banana/cottage cheese & avocado or sliced tomato ü Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit & natural muesli ü Oats or Weet-bix with fruit/nuts/ seeds & low-fat milk

2. Move more, sit less The holidays are a great time to start getting into shape. Find something you enjoy, so you continue to exercise once normality kicks back in. Upping the unplanned exercise is equally important for ‘moving’. Walk more, take the stairs, park further away, and stand whilst on the phone.

3. Plan ahead If you are out and about this holiday, plan to take nutrient rich snacks to avoid reliance on fast-food outlets: ü Fruit ü Mixed nuts ü Cheese and crackers ü Veggie sticks with hummus/cottage cheese ü Greek yoghurt with fruit/nuts/seeds ü Plain popcorn

4. Mindful eating What you eat is only half the story. How you eat also plays a role. Mindful eaters—those who eat when hungry, stop when full, eat slowly, eat distraction free, and enjoy their food—tend to have lower body weights, a greater sense of wellbeing, and are less likely to have eating disorders. 5. Re-think your drink Drinking your calories is a ticket to weight gain. Avoid tight work gear next year by: ü Keeping hydrated (water) throughout the day ü When drinking, alternating alcoholic drinks with water (1:1) ü Plan some alcohol-free days ü Try ¼ juice to ¾ soda water for a lower sugar fizz drink.

About the author: Kelly Hyland is the Administrative Manager for Alex Hyland Plumbing Ltd. She has a Masters in Dietetics, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, and is passionate about ensuring a healthy working environment in the trade industry. Kelly worked as a registered dietitian and as a science teacher before buying the plumbing business with her husband Alex.