Having a healthy Christmas

 Christmas is a time of partying and relaxing with friends and family and enjoying great food and drinks.

Dont make your new years resolutions harder than they need to be. Here are some silly season tips.

· Let your friends and family know you don’t want food as gifts, especially chocolates, lollies or nuts.

· Ask for a present which will help you kick-start your new years program such as gardening tools, a weekend at a health retreat, personal training sessions, gardening tools or dancing lessons.

· If you do indulge, keep the number of indulgent days to a minimum. Sure, you may celebrate Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but be aware that eating the Christmas leftovers for weeks will have an impact on your fitness and health goals.

· Eat fewer calories during the day if you have a big evening dinner planned.

· Keep between-meal snacks in small bowls and put packets of nuts, lollies and chocolates out of sight.

· Keep your physical activity routine on track. An after-meal walk will help you digest your food and counteract the calories. With the inevitable increase in calories, you do not want to decrease your physical activity as well.

· Buy your family active presents. Examples include bicycles or sports gear.