Pittwater Life January 2017 Issue

Eat smart, maintain weight
On average Australians
gain 0.8-1.5kg over the
January holiday period. Here
are some things you can do
now, compiled with some tips
from the experts at Nutrition
Australia, to prevent unwanted
weight gain.
l Avoid going hungry to
parties; it reduces your
chances of snacking on high
calorie party food.
Party foods to enjoy include:
l Vegetable sticks, pretzels,
rice crackers, hummus,
beetroot, tzatziki, avocado
dip, sushi, sandwiches,
quiches, fruit salad with
yoghurt.
l Watch your portion sizes. If
you tend to finish everything
in front of you, use an entrée
plate instead of a dinner
plate. That way you will eat
less.
l Watch what you drink.
Drinking alcohol (1 or 2
standard drinks a day) may
add to enjoyment at events,
but drinking too much
alcohol can lead to weight
gain.
l Be careful with top-ups.
Topping up your glass can
lead to you losing count of
the amount you have been
drinking. Finish one glass
before accepting a top-up.
l Start your day with some
exercise, as it can set you
up for better behaviour for
the rest of the day. Research
shows women who squeezed
in a work out in the morning
moved more during the day
and had less cravings for
high fat foods.
l Set yourself an exercise
challenge for the New Year
such as a big swim or fun run
or a paddle or coastal walk.
l Play with your kids. They
enjoy it when you watch their
games, but they love it when
you join in with them. Think
outdoor cricket, throwing
a Frisbee, bike riding,
swimming, surfing.
Health & Wellbeing
JANUARY 2017 47