🎄🎄 Surviving the Silly Season 🎄🎄

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you’re likely to have a few more social events at this time of year.

In fact, you can apply these tips anytime you might have to navigate the bar and plates of delicious-ness.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

Here are my top 10 tips on surviving the Silly Season (without destroying your waist line and still enjoying the delights on offer):

• Don’t go out on an empty stomach

If you’re going to a cocktail party, street party, picnic etc, don’t starve yourself in the lead up to the event.  Not only do you risk overeating, but you also risk getting tipsy too quickly if you’re drinking alcohol. Have a healthy snack at home and be sure to include some protein to keep you full. Then you can be selective in what you chose to eat at the event, rather than arriving ravenous and over-eating foods you normally avoid.

• Use a small plate

If there is the option to serve yourself, this is a great mind trick – most of us fill our plates regardless of size so a full small plate is still a full plate.

• Only go once

Again, if you can serve yourself, this is the best way to control how much you eat.  If someone put three full plates of food in front of you, you probably wouldn’t eat it all so take one portion and stick with that.

• Choose colourful, fresh foods prepared simply.  Fortunately most venues now offer more than the trusty meat pie and sausage rolls so pick lots of vegetables /salads and eat them first (at breakfast go for fruits)
  
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water

We’ve all heard it before, but it helps slow your consumption and keeps you hydrated. These days there are more non-alcoholic options available, although be aware of how much sugar you may be drinking.

• Skip fried foods

Pretty obvious, but deep fried foods are fat-and salt heavy.  Opt for grilled, steamed or BBQd and choose vegetables; fruits and veggies over fatty meats.

• Avoid all sauces

 These are a sugar, fat, salt trap

• Be careful of pastas and casseroles

Pasta can deliver a massive carbohydrate hit not to mention the creamy sauces often associated.  If you must have it, opt for tomato based sauce.  The same goes for casseroles…

• Position yourself wisely

The further you are from the food and bar, the less likely you are to reach for more.

• Have dessert

Yes, go on.  Check out the options, choose your absolute favourite and have a small portion.  Savour and enjoy it.

Join our Wellbeing Toolkit facebook group for more tips like this as well as connecting with like minded ladies.