- Kim Hofmann, Registered Dietician Many people struggle to keep their healthy eating regimes and habits during the festive season. 

Though they know exactly what to do, the excuses not to stick to a healthy plan are far more prevalent during this part of the year. Far too often I get a message from a client that they will not come if for their sessions now, but will resume with me in the New Year! 

So the question I ask is why does our healthy eating need to take a break during December?  What is so different during this time of the year that we cannot still have healthy habits for most of the days?  And why if one day is not ideal does that translate into overeating and eating more unhealthy foods for the rest of the day, week or month?

Let's start by looking at what makes the festive season so different from any other time of the year.  There are generally more functions and eating out, there is often more alcohol consumed, and we tend to be in a holiday routine rather than in a work routine.  That all translates into less routine in how and what we are eating, which always makes it more difficult to be aware of and feel good about our choices.  But the way to look at it is that even though you are eating different foods, and you are not in the same routine you are in when you go to work everyday, you can still make the best food choices possible, and you can still listen to your body and not overeat.  

There are a couple of rules which will make this easier to follow.

1.      Make sure that you are never hungry, as the tendency to overeat is always worse when you are too hungry.  Have that apple before going to a function so that you can relax and eat regulated quantities when the food does arrive.

2.      Try to only taste the higher fat foods and rather fill up on the healthier and free foods (veggies).  There is nothing wrong with having some of the dessert, but that doesn't mean you have to finish it!  

3.      Try to remember how you feel when you overeat or drink too much alcohol.  The immediate gratification while you are eating or drinking is over before you know it is this really worth feeling stuffed or suffering from a hangover the next day?  Rather focus on other parts of the evening chatting with friends, laughing, dancing etc etc.

4.      Don't beat yourself up if you have eaten or drunk too much.  These mishaps in isolation are not going to affect your weight.  Rather focus on starting the next day normally again. 

5.      If a day or meal does not work our ideally, try to learn from your mistakes rather than think that you cannot do it or focus on what that one day or meal will do for your weight.  When you understand why you overate, work on improving that aspect to improve the outcome of the meal or day.  And similarly look at days where you did really well, and look at what you did that made it successful.

6.      Don't try to undo last night's dinner by skipping breakfast or under eating the next day.  This will generally just result in you overeating at supper time again, and the cycle of under eating during the day and overeating at night will have begun.

So try to do things differently this year for the festive season.  Hide the scale for December and focus on eating regularly, making better choices of your foods, and incorporating a bit of exercise on most days.  Ultimately it is not about the number on the scale, but your habits for the season.  So make them healthy habits this year!

Article provided by: Lean Aubergine Dietetic Service:
Please contact:
Claremont - Kim Hofmann
Tel:           021 674 4666 or 084 206 2715
E-mail:      kimh.rd@mweb.co.za
Address:   Ambiente, 56 First Avenue, Harfield Village

Franschhoek - Karen Protheroe
Tel:          082 925 0931