5 Steps to a Healthy Christmas

We all know the holiday season make it difficult to stay on track with your your goals.

1. Eat mindfully

Whether you’re eating delicious seasonal veggies or a festive dessert, eat slowly and savor every mouthful. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to signal to the brain that it’s full, so if you eat quickly, you may be on your second helping by the time you realize you didn’t want or need it.

2. Set realistic goals

Be clear about what you want to achieve over the Christmas period. Would you be happy to maintain your current weight, or do you want to continue losing? Or maybe you're happy to gain a few pounds and get back into the swing of things in January? Set goals to stay in control and track your progress.

3. Be real, not perfect

Fun with family and friends is what life is all about. It’s okay to let your hair down occasionally – it’s all about balance. You can’t be perfect all the time! If 80% of your choices are healthy ones, that’s good enough.

4. Have fun making healthy tweaks

Enjoy yourself in the kitchen and make some exciting veggie side dishes, fruity treats, or snacks with the kids. Remember to think about the smart swaps you can make – try replacing lamb with leftover turkey or vegetables, and as for coconut milk, use the half fat version instead of full fat.

5. Be honest with loved ones

For many families, food is an expression of love – particularly on special occasions such as Christmas – so saying ‘No thanks’ to something they’ve spent hours preparing can be tricky. But it’s not impossible! Try saying, ‘Your Christmas cake/pie is always amazing, but please don’t be offended if I only have a small piece. I’m feeling so much happier since losing weight and I want to keep on feeling this good.’ No family member could take offence at that!

Get more activities