Top 10 Christmas Day survival tips

It is amazing how much we eat on Christmas day and just don’t realise.

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Think about how many times you walk past the nibbles and grab a handful of this or that. It really adds up over the day.

Here are my top 10 Christmas day survival tips:

Start the day by putting out a little of everything you like onto a plate, e.g. a few cashews, choc almonds, lollies, small slice of Christmas cake and cover with glad wrap. Only go to this plate during the day and once it is all gone then stop.
Have a little of everything and I mean a LITTLE; a lot of everything is a problem. Food isn’t the only thing Christmas is about, so enjoy family and friends.
Remember Christmas is only one day of the year so enjoy the day, but remember you will have to face the scales eventually.
Look for opportunities to be active. Take a walk after lunch, join in with the kids’ games, play a game of backyard cricket. This will help burn off any extra calories you consume over the day.
Avoid overeating high fat, high sugar foods. It is much better to fill up on salads, veggies, lean meats and fruit platters.
Don’t sit in front of the platters of Christmas treats; instead sit with your back to the tempting food so you won’t overindulge.
Keep hydrated on the day, drink lots of water so that you don’t confuse hunger with being thirsty.
Keep tabs on the amount of high calorie soft drinks and alcohol you consume.
Take your good intentions with you if visiting family on the 25th. Offer to take some safe food with you – why not make and take some of my mini quiches? Planning ahead is the clever way to avoid eating food that you don’t want to eat.
And finally, if all else fails and you have overindulged the best thing you can do is get back to healthy eating as soon as possible. The longer you drag it out, the worse it will be.

The way I see it you have two options to manage your Christmas festivities: 1) Try to opt for the healthy options or 2) Just go for it and manage the damage after Christmas.

Which one will you opt for? Please SHARE in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

18 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 22 Nov 2021
    12:55 pm
I am the one that does all the cooking so im on the move all day. Im not a drinker either so i figure i save those Calories.

- - mom101628 said
  - 04 Jan 2018
    10:05 pm
Great tips – at our Christmas dinner we mainly had seafood and it’s amazing how time consuming it is peeling prawns. Makes sure you don’t eat too much.

- - tessie said
  - 27 Dec 2017
    10:20 am
I didn’t have a problem this year. I was working so I didn’t have any temptations in my way. Will have to remember your tips for next year though

- - Ellen said
  - 27 Dec 2017
    8:09 am
I didn’t have more to eat with Xmas then any other day, maybe even less lol !

- - clairejay said
  - 14 Jan 2016
    10:13 am
Great ideas, I’ll be saving these for next Xmas.

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 09 Jan 2016
    8:30 pm
can you believe Chrissy is over already?

- - linaianna said
  - 01 Jan 2016
    10:07 am
Great tips only have to try and stick to them.

- - mom160421 said
  - 22 Dec 2015
    10:04 pm
I’m going for the second option – Just go for it and manage the damage after Christmas. Although, I do like your survival tips.

- - mom94125 said
  - 19 Dec 2015
    5:46 pm
yeah i don’t think that it is a big deal. enjoy yourself, it is only one day! And every year people are more interested in catching up or having a drink, that a lot of the food doesn’t get eaten at all. it is all that festive snacking around christmas and new year’s that is to blame for weight gain. Let’s be realistic.

- - mom101628 said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    9:31 am
I am definitely going the healthy option this year = ham and salad for us and no other goodies.

- - rovermum said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    9:25 am
All well meaning and true. It is going to be a super hot Xmas in Melbourne this year so I find we’ll tend to drink more and less. But, it’s one day out of the year to enjoy all that’s before you. You have Boxing Day to eat left overs and then get back to your normal routine.

- - ella12 said
  - 16 Dec 2015
    9:34 pm
I like the tips. Good ones to consider.

- - mom93821 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    9:29 pm
Thanks for these tips – looking forward to Christmas.
- symplytoogood replied
  
  16 Dec 2015 , 9:52 am
  You’re welcome. Merry Christmas
  - mom93821 replied
    
    17 Dec 2015 , 9:13 pm
    
    Merry Christmas to you too!
- - mom112217 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    4:35 pm
Our Christmas is healthy and full of wonderful food that we all enjoy!

- - mom90758 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    2:44 pm
I’d surely go for number 7. And I will absolutely avoid alcohol.

- - mom165081 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    12:54 pm
Eating too much is very easy on Christmas Day! Great tips.