FOOD TIP: Christmas Kilos

At Christmas time, everything seems to be in excess, with food and alcohol topping the list. We attend Christmas party after Christmas party, we stock up on food and alcohol as if the shops will never open again and we eat and drink all the things we know we shouldn't. Christmas is a time for celebrating and this time is on December 25th - Christmas Day. If we only consumed excess on Christmas Day, everything would be OK - one day of excessive eating is not going to brake the scales. But most of us don't tend to celebrate Christmas on just one day of the year - it's now a month long celebration that start on the 1st of December and ends on the 1st of January the following year. It's in the new year when we start to wish we never ate and drank so much.

Seeing the scales tick over a few kilos past your average weight doesn't have to be your start to the new year. But in order to see this happen, you may need to change a few of your party plans. Nothing too big, just some small changes that can make huge differences. Follow these party plans to help you stay happy and healthy throughout the festive season:

• - Plan ahead: never go to a party hungry, instead eat something substantial before you head to the party. This will reduce the chance of you overeating when at the function. Try a chicken salad with a slice of bread, a pasta salad, sushi or crackers with tuna, tomato, cucumber and lettuce.
• - Party wisely: you don't have to go to every single Christmas party. Why not choose the most important parties and skip the rest.
  - Move away from the food table: when you're at a Christmas party, you're there to socialise not taste test all the food and drink. Move away from the food table and remember that just because it's free alcohol, doesn't mean you have to take as "all-you-can-drink".
  - Reduce the courses: just because other people have order three courses, doesn't mean you have to. Become aware of how hungry you are - only have two courses instead of three.
  - Shake your groove think: burn off some of those kilojoules by shaking your tail feather on the dance floor. The "no drinks on the dance floor" rule will also stop you from over drinking.
  - Hostess with the mostess: playing the host means you get to control what food is being served. Opt for healthy, yet tasty finger food such as sushi rolls, vegetables sticks and dips or grilled seafood and dips. Or prepare healthy mains based on vegetables.

Remember, Christmas is about spending time with the people you care about, not the alcohol and food. Have a Merry Christmas.