Well-being: Put plan into place to tame temptations

We've put together a few tips to help you stay on track over the silly season. Photo/supplied

'Tis the season to be merry, indeed. For those among us who love food there are temptations at every turn - tasty hors d'oeuvres, and of course, summer drinks. If you're not careful, the extra kilojoules in those tempting dishes and drinks will be settling in and around your waistline for the long haul. The ugly bottom line is: unless you've got a plan in place, you're going to gain a couple of kilos in the next four to six weeks. So let's not! We've put together a few tips to help stay on track.

Eat before you go
Just as you shouldn't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you shouldn't hit the summer party circuit on one either.

If you head to a party hungry, you are highly likely to consume way more calories than you anticipated. Prepare a mini-meal the night before that can be eaten on the go.

Use a smaller plate
Whether you are grazing at a buffet table or enjoying a sit-down meal, do yourself a favour and eat from the smallest plate you can find. Just be sure you don't fill up your small plate 10 times! Stick to one serving.

Participate better
Bring a dish or two that you know is healthier, for example, a vegetable frittata and/or a salad.

There are so many delicious holiday recipes that are quite healthy, you probably won't feel deprived. Then, when you're filling up your small plate, eat nutrient-rich foods first.

Drink water
A great way to limit the number of empty-calorie drinks you have is to alternate between a beverage and a large glass of water. I'm sure you've heard that we waste many calories on beverages.

More important to me is the quality of ingredients contained in those beverages. They're not doing your body any good, and I'm not talking only about alcohol here. Pour yourself a glass of water - fizzy or flat, with a lemon or lime, or naked - for every other beverage you drink.

Be grateful
Including for the food you've been provided. Many all over the world struggle to find food each day. Be thankful and show this thanks to those around you.

Implement the 80/20 rule
Incorporate it into your food choices. We will go insane if we think we can handle eating good 100 per cent of the time, especially if we're just starting out.

Set a goal to eat nutritious foods 80 per cent of the time, and spoil yourself, within reason, the other 20 per cent.

Chew your food
Make a point to think about how many times you're chewing each forkful, and while doing so, think about number six. This gives our body time to tell our brains that we're full. The ultimate goal: to not overstuff ourselves. We simply need to feel satisfied.

The trick here is to be better and implement a few or even one of these ideas. If you try to do all, you may set yourself up for disappointment. Our plan this year is to follow numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7.