'Tis the season for tempation (From Swindon Advertiser)

'Tis the season for tempation

8:51am Tuesday 16th December 2008 in

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Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat - and so will we if we’re not careful about what we eat over the festive season.

Every year, millions of us are tempted to start gobbling down mince pies earlier and earlier as supermarkets start promotions and we build up to the big calorie-fest that is Christmas week.

The average Brit consumes a gut-busting 7,000 calories on Christmas Day alone.

And days after the presents have been unwrapped, a seemingly innocent meal of a turkey sandwich, a leftover mince pie and a glass of wine comes to a whopping 930 calories, which you’d have to walk 9.3 miles to burn off.

And even before Christmas, there are parties to go to and treats being passed round the office.

But it’s not all doom and gloom - with careful planning it is possible to have a low calorie Christmas, says nutritionist Carrie Ruxton.

“On average, people put on about three or four pounds over Christmas because it starts a lot earlier than it used to.

“It’s important to think about what you’re going to do over the festive period, so you don’t end up having this weight gain and then feeling miserable about it in January.”

Carrie says we should decide what our approach to Christmas eating and drinking is, and stick to it.

“Dieticians always come across as killjoys at Christmas, but that’s because our clinics are always flooded in January with people saying ‘Oh dear, I’ve put on a stone, I’m so depressed about it’.

“You can enjoy yourself, but you have to think ahead.

“You either go overboard on Christmas Day and then try to make up for it a few days after by being more active and eating and drinking less, or you decide that you’re going to enjoy every day of the Christmas season, but maybe eat a bit less everyday to minimise weight gain.”