What's New
A Healthy Resolution?
Now is the time to adopt a sensible eating plan to try and avoid the disappointment when the scales reveal that you haven't shifted that increase in weight!
Try to follow the guidance and proportions of the food groups illustrated in the "eatwell" plate of balanced eating – this is the Food Standards Agency new look plate
![Eatwell Plate [FSA]](/images/platenoheading.jpg)
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables they are filling and low calorie.
Salads are sometimes not very appealing but try serving warm salads such as marinated hot chicken breast on mixed salad leaves served with warmed rolls. Avoid adding too much salad dressing
Serve fruits without sugar and vegetables without added sauces
Homemade vegetable soup can be filling but have few calories, eat with warm bread do not add butter or spread
Avoid fried foods and pastry
Most importantly try to control the size of your portions especially of foods which contain fat and sugar. Substitute that muffin or the chocolate bar with a piece of fruit.
With all the tasty snacks around it is easy to overindulge.
Beware the snacks at drinks parties – often these nibbles such as crisps and nuts will be salty and fatty but they are very "moreish" and tempting
They can make you thirsty and encourage you to drink more.
Have you ever stopped to think how many extra calories you could be packing in when you take another sausage roll or dessert from the passing tray? It may not seem like a lot but it soon adds up.
It takes just 3,500 extra calories to put on a pound in weight. It's easily done - check out the list below
Mince Pies 2 (110g) 370
Crisps1 packet (30g) 164
Mixed Nuts 1 handful (40g) 256
Mulled Wine 1 glass (125ml) 245
White Wine 2 glasses (250ml) 185
Breadsticks 4 (28g) 110
Taramasalata 1 serving (45g) 227
Assorted Chocs 6 chocolates (60g) 268
Twiglets 1 serving (100g) 394
Sausage rolls 2 small (64g) 254
The problem is that we nibble on extra foods and drink between meals, these snacks don't generate signals of satisfaction or fullness to the brain and the extra calories get converted to fat.
So, how can you get through without piling on the pounds?
Have some healthier options available to nibble and fill the gaps
· Satsumas are really good and are a great source of vitamin C – keep a bowl of these or other fruits around the house or on your desk for a healthy snack
· Buy lower fat crisps, plain popcorn, breadsticks or pretzels
· Serve raw vegetables with low fat dips choose salsa based ones rather then taramasalata or cheese based ones
· Have a white wine spritzer made with soda or low calorie lemonade. Look for tasty sweet dried fruit snacks such as dates, figs and apricots
· At a party don't stand near the nibbles
· Make sure you keep taking some regular exercise
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