Your festive 7-step stay-on-track plan

Here's how to enjoy the festive merriment while staying on track with your get-healthy goals.

If you’re off work and out of your normal routine, establish a new one. Simply planning what you’ll have for breakfast each day will get you off to a good start. Think about how you’ll use your Points® Budget: you could save it up for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, or use a few Points every day for little treats. It’s up to you! And if you slip up, forgive yourself – tomorrow is a new day.

For many families, food is an expression of love – particularly on special occasions – so saying ‘No thanks’ to something they’ve spent hours preparing can be tricky. But it’s not impossible! Try saying, ‘Your cauliflower cheese/cake is always amazing, but please don’t be offended if I only have a small serving. I’m feeling so much happier since losing weight and I want to keep on feeling this good.’ No family member could take offence at that!

Be clear about what you want to achieve over the festive period. Would you be happy to maintain your current weight, or do you want to continue losing weight? Or maybe you're happy to gain a few pounds and get back into the swing of things in January? Set goals to stay in control and track your progress.

Fun with family and friends is what the festive season is all about! It’s okay to let your hair down once in a while – it’s all about balance. You can’t be perfect all the time! If 80% of your choices are healthy, that’s good enough.

Enjoy yourself in the kitchen and make some exciting side dishes with non-starchy veggies, fruity treats or snacks with the kids. Fancy a curry to spice up your Boxing Day? Remember to think about the smart swaps you can make – try replacing lamb with leftover turkey or vegetables, and as for coconut milk, use the half fat version instead of full fat.

Whether you’re eating delicious seasonal veg or a festive dessert, eat slowly and savour every mouthful. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to signal to the brain that it’s full, so if you eat quickly, you may be on your second helping by the time you realise you didn’t actually want or need it.

How about starting a new festive tradition to get the whole family active? A brisk, hour-long walk on Boxing Day, or after your turkey lunch, could be just what everybody needs. Whether you put on some music and have a boogie or fire up the Wii Fit, there are plenty of opportunities to make time for movement!