You’ve been working hard on your health and fitness goals, making good choices, being consistent, making progress and then Christmas creeps up. You start thinking, ‘what am I going to do, I’m going to this party or I have 3 different Christmas dinners to go to’. How are you going to tackle it without throwing it all out the window and thinking, ‘forget it, I’ll start again in the new year’?
You don’t want to be that person, the one that refuses everything and tracks their calories. You want to be part of the festive season but in a way that works for you.
There are a few swaps you can make to keep calories in check without tracking.
10 suggestions to swap out
- Pigs in blankets (sausages and bacon are processed and high in salt – try grilled chicken skewers
- Ice cream (approximately 200kcals per scoop) – try Sorbet at around 110kcals per scoop
- Deep Fried Camembert (high in calories and saturated fat) – try Bruschetta with a veg topping
- Crisps (approximately 130kcals) – try salted popcorn at around 31kcals
- Quality Street (approximately 240kcals) – try dark chocolate 85% at around 104kcals
- Brandy Butter – try half fat creme fraiche
- Gingerbread Latte (approximately 150kcals) – try black coffee 2kcals!
- Full fat bread sauce – try using skimmed milk
- Beer or wine (approximately 210kcals) -try a clean spirit and mixer like G&T approx 59kcals
- Deep fried prawns – marinated prawns
Things to fill your plate with at Christmas dinner?
- Turkey – great source of protein and really satiating so will keep you full and less likely to reach for the sugar treats.
- All the vegetable, including Brussel sprouts, a cruciferous vegetable they are great for your health and may help protect against stomach, lung, kidney and breast cancer.
- Try a veggie stuff with nuts and fruits in.
- Cut potatoes in larger pieces so they absorb less oil, better still use an air fryer.
If you make the protein and vegetables the main focus of your meal, try not to fill up on the canapés and you should be in a good mindset when it comes to desert. Enjoy your desert, just be aware of your hunger signals, when you’re done you’re done, your body will tell you so pay attention.
Christmas is a time to relax and enjoy food and drink with friends and family. You don’t need to be the odd one out just be smart about your choices.
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