YOU CAN STILL ENJOY A TIPPLE AND HERE’S HOW

YOU don’t have to avoid the drinks table just because you’ve committed to getting fitter and healthier for the holiday season. With a little planning (and some clever recipes) you can still raise a glass or two and stay on track with health goals.

‘At WeightWatchers, we’re not asking you to give up alcohol. But we can help you find ways to enjoy a tipple without sabotaging your goals,’ says WeightWatchers nutritionist Jess O’Shea.

Many alcoholic drinks — particularly wine, beer and cider — can be high in sugar, so tend to also have high PersonalPoints values. A glass or two will also make you less able to resist the temptations of the crisp bowl or bread basket.

This means it’s better to plan what drinks you’re going to have in advance. Clear spirits, such as gin and vodka, tend to be relatively low in Points, especially when coupled with slimline mixers — a vodka and slimline tonic, say, is just 2 PersonalPoints.

‘Here you’ll find the WW app is an invaluable resource,’ says Jess O’Shea. ‘It has values for around 50 generic alcoholic drinks ranging from red, white, rosé or sparkling wines to cider, beer, spirits and flavoured alcoholic drinks — and more values for branded drinks as well.’

If you’re the host, the WW app is full of suggestions for cocktails that are surprisingly low in PersonalPoints. A glamorous-looking glass of Berry Prosecco will set you back 4 Points for instance, as will a Dark ’n’ Stormy (made with sugar-free ginger beer, lime juice and rum).

With just a bit of effort, you can make sure your non-alcoholic drinks are much more appealing, too — try adding lemon, lime, fresh mint or berries to fizzy or soda water for extra pizzazz.

‘And above all, don’t reproach yourself if you slip up,’ says Jess. ‘Just get back on track the next day and focus on how much fitter and healthier you’ll be after just a few weeks of following your PersonalPoints programme.’

Below are some helpful tips to keep you on track . . .