As the end of the year looms closer a lot of you will be concerned about how to get through the next month or so without gaining a few kilos. Let’s face it, Xmas and New Year are times of excess and indulgence.

Social occasions naturally involve food and drink, that’s a given. You can’t change that, but you can modify your behaviour at the social situations. Some suggestions might be:

• Don’t arrive hungry. Ever. The nibbles platter and bowl of potato chips will be just too difficult to resist.

• Don’t sit near the table/platters/drinks station. Never a good idea to have ‘picking’ food within easy reach.

• Remember, if you have a couple of glasses of wine and a moderate plate of nibbles late afternoon, and then you have dinner later, it actually ends up being like consuming 3-4 dinners. Do that frequently over the holidays and you may wish you hadn’t.

• Take a salad if you are asked to bring a plate. But make it an interesting, big salad with lots of extras (avocado, nuts, seeds, chopped strawberries). Fill half your plate with it which then means less room for high calorie goodies.

• A platter of chocolate dipped strawberries (dipped in dark, milk or white chocolate) is always popular and you can add nuts and fresh cherries to the plate too.

• Don’t let others guilt you into eating or drinking something you don’t want to, just to make them feel better. Get in the habit of saying No thanks and sticking to it.

• Don’t give up on exercise. If you are on holiday, commit to doing something every day for at least 30 minutes.

For further tips you can check out the Xmas blog I wrote last December.

If you know that chocolate and sweet things are your weakness, then ask family and friends now not to buy them for you. Who can resist an open box of chocolates? Once the cellophane is ripped, it’s all over, even the ones you don’t particularly like will eventually be eaten if they sit around long enough.

Keeping asparagus fresh tip

Simply stand your asparagus spears in a glass of water in the fridge door. You will be amazed at how firm and fresh it stays.

If you would like to gift a friend or family one or more nutrition appointments, I have gift vouchers available. They can be made up in any manner you like. Please get in touch.

I’ll be finishing on Saturday 21 December and then back at work on Thursday 9 January. I will be clearing texts and emails during that time.

If you have been putting off getting back on track until the New Year, contact me now and let’s lock an appointment in.

Wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy Festive Season.