YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health (Summer 2016) | Page 12

EUCALE STANES, APD Eucale is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) and Accredited Nutritionist (AN) and is passionate about food, cooking and helping people improve their health. She takes an holistic approach to health, and believes that evidence based alternate therapies can be an integral part. Eucale is committed to helping make healthy eating with the whole family easy, enjoyable and stress-free. Learn more about Eucale at www.nutritioninaction.com.au or n4foodandhealth.com FESTIVE SEASON THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE Nutrition expert Eucale Stanes shares her tips to keep your nutrition in check during the festive season. he festive season, sometimes called the ‘eating season’, is one time of year that it really pays to have a plan. By doing so, you can feel even more fabulous in the new year than you do now – and not lethargic or regretful! These six tips should help. T 3 Stop grazing. If you find yourself grazing or eating when you’re not hungry, simply because the food is there, or because you are tired, or stressed, or bored, or lonely, or happy…  step away from the food! You need to get into a different space and do something different, until your brain registers that it is not meal time. Try watering  the garden, pulling out weeds, doing the washing, enjoying a cup of mint tea, going for a run, walking the dog, catching up with your partner, or playing with the kids. 4 Watch the alcohol. When you arrive at a party, start with a water or mineral water and have another water or mineral water in between each alcoholic drink. 1 Enjoy the foods you love. You don’t have to eat everything just because it’s on offer. If you don’t love it, don’t eat it. If mince pies, potato salad and trifle aren’t your thing, pass them up, and go for the things you really love. Paradoxically, by choosing indulgences we really love, rather than settling for whatever is at hand, we feel more satisfied and generally eat less. Pass me the scorched almonds please! 2 Eat lots of veggies. At each meal, fill half of your plate with leafy greens and other half with colourful non-starchy veggies. 12 YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 5 And the snacks. Steer clear of pastry, chips and lollies – your body will thank you. 6 Remember, Christmas is just one day. We will probably all over-indulge on that day. No big deal.  It is what happens over the surrounding month that really matters when it comes to weight management.