How to Stop Eating Too Much at Christmas

With all the tempting food available in December, it’s difficult
to resist eating too much – yet if you don’t you’ll regret it
later. One or two bouts of over-indulgence won’t make much
difference but if you throw in the towel for the whole month
you’ll end up quite a few pounds heavier in January.

But how do you resist when there is so much on offer? And
without feeling that you’re missing out? Here are 10 tips to
guide you through the holidays.

1. Have what you really want

When you’re faced with wall-to-wall goodies, don’t feel that you
have to get your nutrition before you indulge. You’ll only end
up with more calories than your body needs. In other words, if
you know you’re going to have the apple pie, don’t fill up on
meat and potatoes and then have it! One occasion is not going to
make you malnourished.

2. Take three bites

If the chocolate cake looks good but you know 800 calories is
not going to look great on your hips, have a tiny piece. Have
three bites, eat them as slowly as you can and really taste what
you’re eating. Satisfy your taste buds without wolfing down a
huge portion.

3. Quality counts

Instead of buying cheap fattening treats at Christmas indulge
yourself and your family with the best delicacies you can
afford. Buy the best and treat yourself that way rather than
picking your way through a mountain of unmemorable junk.

4. If you lapse

If you do over-indulge, don’t give up all semblance of watching
what you eat for the whole festive period. It’s only one meal,
one snack and you’re unlikely to have done much damage. Just go
right back to eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re
full – right from your next meal.

5. Pace yourself

If you’re going to a party or dinner later don’t starve yourself
or you’ll fall ravenously on the buffet table or bread basket.
Do, however, eat moderately during the day with lower calorie
but filling foods. Have soup and bread or salad and a baked
potato for lunch and have a small snack such as an apple or some
toast later in the afternoon so that you don’t arrive too hungry
at the party. 6. Stay away

Whatever you do don’t position yourself near the buffet table -
you’ll nibble all night. Put one or two things on a plate and
get away from there – you can always go back if you’re still
hungry. By the same token don’t leave snack foods lying around
at home. Put them out of sight as much as you can.

7. Keep busy

The more you do the less time you’ll have to sit around eating,
so get busy around the house (you can make it spick and span for
Santa). Get all your preparations done early so that you’re less
stressed and less likely to turn to food to soothe your frazzled
state.

8. Plan ahead

No matter how much you have to do, make sure you take a few
minutes out of your schedule to plan your meals each day. It
would be even better if you could organise yourself to do this
on a weekly basis. If you don’t plan your meals you’ll end up
eating out or calling for take-away more than is good for you.
Also if you know you’ve got big meals or parties on particular
days plan some lighter meals (but not starvation rations) on the
days before and after to help balance out the amount you are
eating.

9. Low calorie options

If you are in charge of cooking use all the tricks you know to
reduce the calories of the food you provide without reducing the
flavour. Look up some low-calorie versions of the dishes you
normally cook online and use these. Or try some new lighter
recipes. They may be an improvement on what you usually cook.
Your family and guests will think that you are serving them
something special rather than something low-calorie. In any case
provide alternatives for any particularly fattening dishes -
fruit salad as well as Christmas pudding for example. Your
health conscious guests will thank you.

10. Be Mindful

We put so much in our mouths without thinking about it, without
even noticing it or enjoying it. This is easy to do with so much
food available and lying out on display. Make sure that whatever
you eat, you serve it properly. Put it on a plate or in a bowl,
sit down and enjoy it. Even if you intend to do this, you’ll
catch yourself nibbling from packets, standing up in the kitchen
or whatever – but awareness is half the battle – just notice how
much you do this so that you can gradually start to change this
habit.

Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small

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