Melinda Appleby
So often clients will be concerned about their eating over the holiday period - and very often they will come to you for advice. Perhaps they've made progress with weight goals during the year and are worried they'll go backwards, or perhaps occasions that involve food make them worry they'll make bad choices.
It's so important to maintain a healthy relationship with food and to enjoy celebrations at any time of the year.
A few big days won't undo all the positive steps they've already made. If anything, they may well realise they're more aware of how to make healthier choices instinctively now. If they have been eating healthier, they'll find their tolerance for sweet or fatty foods has indeed changed, and they will naturally eat according to those changes.
Sometimes that reminder from a coach or trainer is really helpful.
If they are indeed still looking for some ideas, here's 5 simple points that are easy to implement.
1. Add more vegetables where ever you can. That could mean veggie sticks for nibbles, and adding more green vegetables on your lunch or dinner plate.
2. Small substitutions can make a big difference - eg using Greek yoghurt instead of mayonnaise on savoury foods, or rather than cream with desserts.
3. Look at drink choices. Simply choosing sparkling water rather than soft drink makes a huge difference. As far as alcohol goes, white spirits or light beer will have lower calories.
4. Slow down your eating - it takes your body about 20 minutes before its satiety signals kick in! Aside from that fact, if you slow down, you'll enjoy the food more, and probably chew longer which will actually help with digestion.
5. Listen to your body - when you're about 80% full, that's a good time to stop eating.
The most important thing is always to enjoy the occasion and the people around you!
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