How to make this your slimmest ever Christmas

The season of overindulgence is in full swing but fear not – follow our festive food plan and you won’t be mistaken for a Christmas pud come the 25th

25

Dec

2011

December is hell for dieters all that gorgeous Christmas grub and you’re expected to show self-restraint? Life ain’t fair. Not so, says nutritionist Linda Foster. “The run-up to the 25th – and the day itself – doesn’t have to mean a stark choice between complete denial or a pig out you’ll regret come January 1,” she explains. If you stick to a few simple rules and choose the right meals and treats, you can make the final 12 days before Christmas really count in your quest for a slimmer, trimmer you.”

To show you how, we’ve designed a diet plan that will ensure your slimmest Christmas ever – without spoiling your fun…

The festive food rules..

Have a big – and we mean BIG – breakfast
Unless you start the day by refuelling and stabilising your blood sugar levels, you are leaving yourself open to all the sugar-packed festive treats that will come your way. A filling breakfast that contains some wholegrain carbs (granary bread or cereal) plus protein in the form of eggs or low-fat dairy will keep you full until lunchtime – stopping you from picking at Quality Street and mince pies all morning. Have two courses, one of cereal and one egg-based to really load up – studies show that the bigger breakfast people eat, the fewer calories they consume during the rest of the day.
Eat before EVERY social occasion
Heading to a party straight from the office? Unless you eat beforehand you won’t be able to resist wrecking your diet by helping yourself to every canape-loaded dish that comes your way.
Pass on the cocktails
Seasonal drinks may look like fun but eggnog, mulled wine and snowballs are all laden with fat and a whole load of calories. Stick to a glass or two of white wine soda (not lemonade) spritzers, or a simple Screwdriver (vodka and orange). And alternate each alcoholic drink with water to slash your booze calorie intake in half.
Dodge the stodge
Aside from the main Christmas meal, family get-togethers over the holidays often mean fat-laden comfort food and puddings. Offer to cook or bring a dish yourself, so you can create a tasty but healthy meal and know exactly how much fat it contains. Or suggest a meal out and stick to healthy options, such as pasta or chicken with tomato-based sauces and grilled white meat or fish with veg.
Plump for protein power
When your blood sugar is high you produce more of the hormone insulin, which encourages you to store fat. Eating more protein helps stabilise your blood sugar levels, reducing fat storage and also keeping food cravings at bay. Good sources include fish, lean meat, nuts, low-fat dairy and eggs.