As a Dietitian, the best advice I can give you at Christmas is:
1. Eat everything you feel like and do not worry about eating too much fat, sugar or kilojoules (calories). This is regardless of whether you are trying to lose weight or not.
2. Enjoy a few extra drinks (unless you are pregnant or driving!) and aim to have a glass of water between each alcoholic drink.
Then... For the other 364 days of the year:
• Eat regular meals and snacks
•Eat more vegetables and fruit
• Limit you intake of high sugar and/or high fat processed or take-away foods
• Watch your portion sizes
• Drink more water
• If you drink, keep to 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day (with 2 alcohol free days per week)
• Exercise or be more physically active on all, if not most , days of the week
With a few exceptions...
• Your birthday
• Your partner/spouses birthday
• NYE and other anniversaries
• Weddings and other special occasions
Follow all these guides to help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and lifestyle which means it is perfectly healthy to eat and drink more than usual on special occasions!
If you need help motivating yourself to make these changes, or would just like some more great advice, visit Zoe’s website www.figureate.com.au to see how an accredited practising dietitian can help you to motivate yourself to change the way you eat once and for all.
I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year!
Zoe Nicholson - Accredited Practising Dietitian
