6 tips for healthy Christmas eating

Santa isn’t the only one to indulge over Christmas – registered dietician Carrie Regan suggests that on average, people gain around one to five pounds over the holiday season. On Christmas Day alone, consumers could eat about 6,000 calories – about three times more the daily average.

Below are some quick easy tips to help the temptations over the Christmas period:

Don’t skip breakfast:

starting the day off with a healthy meal and sticking to three balanced meals per day are key to not overindulging.

Make modifications:

For instance, if you’re eating turkey, go for the white meat and skip the skin that adds extra fat and calories.

Watch out for the holiday sabotages:

A cup of eggnog has 350 calories and 19 grams of fat without the rum! If you’re going to have some, limit yourself to a taste to enjoy without feeling like you are depriving yourself.

After having your meal, stay away from the buffet table so you avoid mindless grazing.

Don’t socialize near the food:

When you aren’t out for dinner or at a friend’s house, make sure your own fridge is stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy snacks. If you’re heading to a potluck, you gain some control by bringing a nutritious dish to eat.

Stock your home with healthy ingredients:

The sugary sweet cocktails are packed with calories. And if you’re ordering a latte, go for skim milk and skip the whipped cream. At dinner, go for a wine spritzer and make sure you’re using club soda instead of tonic water in your drink, as there are no calories in club soda.

Watch what you drink: