Party season is nearly upon us, which usually means one thing- TREATS!!!!
Treats are exactly that, something that you have on a special occasion. Any more than that and the extra calories would certainly start to tell…
As we move closer to the Christmas period our social life tends to explode with nights out, house parties, works dos and festive functions. It is a great time of year but can also lead to a January hangover that won’t be extinguished with a couple of paracetamol.
On average people will gain up to half a stone over the Christmas period. That is the equivalent of three bags of sugar! Crazy really. But it doesn’t have to be like this. A few little tips can minimise the risk of a santa-shaped silhouette come new year.
If you’re hosting the party you are in total control of the treats on offer. This doesn’t mean depriving people of a good time by only offering salad and water, it simply means providing healthy, tasty treats!
- Chicken legs. Always a winner. Almost everyone likes chicken, it is low in fat and easy to cook. Coat in a spice mix of your choice; try cumin, oregano and garlic salt. Cook on the grill tray in the oven 200°C for 20-30min. No need to add any oil- the skin will ensure they stay juicy.
- Celery, carrots, whole-wheat pittas and humus dip. No cooking involved although toasting the pittas is optional. Just slice the carrots, celery and pittas into finger sized pieces and arrange around the humus.
- Cold meats. Whether its cooked ham, beef, turkey or chicken you can’t go wrong. Depending on how they are cooked they should be relatively lean and high in protein. Grab a wholewheat bun and stuff it with meat. A couple of these bad boys and you won’t even crave the crisps.
- Prawns. Ideally not smothered in sauce. High in protein and zinc which is a bonus at this time of year to boost the immune system against the dreaded lurgy!
- Pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks. The fruit provides vitamins, minerals and fibre. The cheese offers calcium and a load of vitamins plus our friend Mr.Protein.
- Mixed nuts. High in healthy fats, fibre and protein. Just be wary of sugar/ salt coated imposters as these are significantly higher in calories.
Lets not pretend you won’t have a mulled wine or alcoholic beverage of some kind in your hand but being mindful of your food choices at least offsets the balance a bit.
Top tip:
Almost all parties end up in the kitchen, do you want to be the yawning loner sat at the table? Of course not. Stay mobile, stand up! You’ll burn more calories and are more likely to have a little boogie when the music kicks in and guess what? Dancing is exercise!
Party on!!