Other tactics to help you eat well at Christmas
Knowing what Christmas food to embrace and what to limit will empower you to make healthier choices throughout the festive season. Being mindful of portion sizes is also important for avoiding weight gain. Whilst adopting eating main meals in a correct food order (Veg first, protein/fat next, followed by carbs at the end) will help reduce sudden blood sugar spikes.
Other tactics can make your Christmas diet goals more effective and easier to maintain. Remember, it's OK to enjoy the odd high-calorie treat. In understanding diabetes, you’ll come to appreciate that weight gain is not a calorie imbalance but a hormonal imbalance (such as insulin and leptin resistance) Following these rules can help you to stay in control:
Stick to smaller portions.
Try to minimise snacking and focus on your main meals to fill you up. If snacking, try to go for protein based snacks
Eat slowly and chew more - a proven technique that helps you to feel fuller.
Balance out any less healthy eating by eating better at other times.
Fill up most of your plate with healthier options, like vegetables or salads (remember: fibre is a perfect antidote to diabetes)
Consider healthy alternatives - such as full fat (yes, full fat) natural yoghurt instead of double cream.
Enjoy every bite - it's OK to enjoy yourself at Christmas, and a little indulgence can help you to stick to your long-term diet goals
Tips for eating out over Christmas
You may find yourself attending a few Christmas dinners with friends, family, or work colleagues over December. Eating out can limit your control over what you eat and can offer temptation.
Diabetes UK has practical advice to help you choose healthier options:
Before attending, check if the restaurant provides nutritional information online - you can plan ahead and learn which options are healthier.
Be the first to order - to avoid being swayed by other people's choices.
Consider ordering a starter as a main meal if you have a smaller appetite. (As the saying goes, “Our eyes can be bigger than our stomach.”)
Order meals that are high in protein (such as variants of meat, egg, fish, or beans/pulses).
Only order dessert after you've eaten your main meal - you may find you're too full for one.
If your meal is delayed, and your blood glucose levels are in danger of dropping too low, ask if there are some olives or nuts (once you don’t have a nut allergy) to tide you over.
If possible, add extra vegetables to your plate - filling up on vegetables is a low-calorie, nutritious option.
Extracts taken from https://patient.info