Niki Bezzant: Give yourself gift of health

When it comes to food, mindfulness is your friend at party time. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

It's funny how as soon as December ticks over, the "silly season" immediately starts. The pace kicks up a notch, and we're immersed in the craziness of end-of-year, end-of-school and end-of-work festivities.

It can be a time when the idea of eating healthily is tossed aside. Who wants to be healthy when there's partying to be done? This seems common - it is estimated that adults put on around half a kilo during the festive season, on average. It is possible to eat reasonably healthily and still have a great time. How?

First, of course, it pays to start from a healthy base. If you've been eating well all year, a couple of weeks of parties and treats will not derail you completely. If you're not eating as well as you could, try not to stress about it. Remember that it's never too late to start - even a simple thing like eating an extra serving of vegetables a day is a good, small goal you can do even in the midst of the holiday whirl. You don't have to wait until the new year and do something drastic like a detox that will only last a couple of weeks.

Assuming your basic eating is pretty good, what else can help in party season? Start the day right. A good breakfast gives you a chance to get at least one good meal in, to get nutrients on board and to take on fuel for the day ahead. Try to get fibre and protein into your breakfast. Bonus points if you can get a vege in there, too. Eggs on toast with spinach would do the trick nicely.

Christmas parties can be a test of endurance. Don't arrive too hungry. If that means you need to snack right before your event, do it - have things like nuts or yoghurt on hand to fill a gap quickly.

Alcohol is a major pitfall as most of us will have learned; pacing ourselves is key. It's easy to grab a drink at the start of a function out of habit, nervousness or thirst; this drink often goes down the fastest. Starting with a sparkling water is a good idea. Alternating alcoholic drinks with water is smart, too; you'll hopefully stay hydrated and limit your alcohol.

When it comes to food, mindfulness is your friend at party time. Think about what you really want to eat, rather than mindlessly grabbing whatever you see. Don't stand next to the food table where it's easy to pick without thinking. And remember it's a time for pleasure, too. We want to enjoy what we eat, so choose what you love. Banish guilt and savour the Christmas food.

Niki Bezzant is editor in chief of Healthy Food Guide.