Facts about… EATING SMART AT CHRISTMAS

Sometimes, it’s how you eat that can make a huge difference when it comes to dieting and staying healthy

- ROSE GOODMAN

With the festive season fast approaching, there’s going to be the inevitable extra drinks, indulgent canapés and festive feasts, so if you’re wondering how to enjoy the season without paying for it in the gym when January swings around, you’ve come to the right place. However, enjoying the holiday season doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation. Here, our experts give you the lowdown on how to have a healthy, balanced and enjoyable Christmas.

Don’t show up hungry

At any Christmas get-togethers, you might not be able to control what’s on the menu or choose what is served, so a way to curb the effect of any potential less-than-healthy rich foods is to eat before you go. ‘Consuming something light and healthy an hour or so before you arrive, such as a vegetable soup, green smoothie or some lean protein with vegetables, ensures that you don’t show up really hungry and hoover up all the trays of canapés,’ says Gabrielle Masefield, holistic nutritionist and professional chef. ‘Feeling satisfied with something light and nutritious before you arrive means that you can pick and choose a few tasty morsels to sample, without relying on them to fill you up.’ A couple of canapés or a taste of dessert won’t ruin your health goals. It only becomes a problem when you have to eat 20 canapés because you’re famished.

Eat slowly