How to manage Christmas Day lunch

[Natalie Dee]

So often around this time of year, clients ask me about tips and strategies to help them eat better and with more care around the Christmas meals and events.

As a life coach the answers don't come from me, I feel the answers are individual to the person asking the question and what works best for that person.

What has happened over the years, is that there have been some interesting repetitive ideas that my clients themselves have come up with that have been most useful.

I've written a mini article about this, which I will summarise the tips here for you:

• 
  Drink water at the start of each day, and another glass, even a small one before each and every meal.

• Alcohol and other festive drinks: have a glass of water in between drinks and pour yourself a small glass each time.

• The pre-meal nibbles; have nibbles, and manage the way you do it so that you only take a small amount in the palm of your hand and then make sure you move away from the bowl of nuts, crisps, chocolates, etc.

• The Christmas Day meal: at the Christmas lunch itself, do make sure you have a bit of everything you like; the key here is to only take a small amount of everything - the smaller the better, especially if you do want a second helping of anything you'll know you've only had a small bit to begin with.

• Christmas pudding: or any other desert that there may be at the table - do have it, and again, remember to have a smaller portion than usual.

• After dinner: often there's still more to come after the main meal, such as coffee and chocolates; do have some chocolate if that’s what you really want - do check with yourself it you do really want it rather than just eating it because it's there.

Summary:
Drink water - fills you up without the calories
Eat small amounts of everything you want
Eat consciously, slowly chew and savour every bite
Take nibbles and walk away from the overflowing bowls
Drink alcohol in smaller amounts
Enjoy yourself, have what you want, just less of it so you feel great!

I do hope this also helps you, if this is something that would be helpful. Remember these are only other people's ideas, you can adapt and change them to suit you.

Wishing you a wonderful time over the festive season and a Happy & Healthy New Year for 2012!!

[Kiga]

Thanks Natalie, I'm sure your tips will be useful to many.

However, my problem is that I have a tiny appetite, and am always over-faced by so much food at Christmas, especially since I'm the one that's been cooking it!

[Natalie Dee]

Originally Posted by Kiga

Thanks Natalie, I'm sure your tips will be useful to many.

However, my problem is that I have a tiny appetite, and am always over-faced by so much food at Christmas, especially since I'm the one that's been cooking it!

Interesting, I have often heard people say that... after having cooked so much, they're really not hungry; it's as though the "mind" has been "fed" by seeing so much food!

Are you tempted by so much food?

Or, do you feel uncomfortable not eating as much as the others?

What do you believe would make it easier for you to manage around food over the Xmas period?

[Louisa]

Originally Posted by Kiga

Thanks Natalie, I'm sure your tips will be useful to many.

However, my problem is that I have a tiny appetite, and am always over-faced by so much food at Christmas, especially since I'm the one that's been cooking it!

Same here Kiga.
I am very happy with a slice of toast. YIPPEE
I always typically lost weight over the christmas period.

[Natalie Dee]

Hi everyone,

How was Christmas Day lunch?

I hope you all had a great day, lots of fun, family, good food and laughter.

Love to hear back from you.