The festive season is soon to be in full swing, and that often means more dinners out, Christmas parties, drinks with colleagues, and social events that revolve around food. If you’re working on your health, energy, digestion or weight, it can be easy to feel torn. Do you enjoy yourself and feel guilty later? Or try to be “good” and end up feeling deprived?
There’s a better way.
You can enjoy the festivities without undoing all your hard work or making yourself feel worse in the process. It starts with making intentional, flexible choices that support your body and your lifestyle.
Right now, I’m speaking with many of my coaching clients about how to prepare for the festive period in a way that feels balanced and supportive, so they can genuinely enjoy themselves without letting go of the progress they’ve made.
A little thought preparation in advance can go a long way.
My top 10 simple strategies for eating out without the blowout:
1. Don’t arrive starving
Skipping meals to “save up” for a big night out can backfire, leaving your blood sugar crashing and cravings sky-high. Eat nourishing meals during the day with protein, healthy fats and fibre to help you feel balanced and in control.
2. Be picky about what you love
You don’t have to eat everything on offer to be polite. Choose the foods you genuinely enjoy and savour them slowly. Let go of the “I may as well” mindset and choose indulgences that actually feel worth it.
3. Alcohol: less is usually better
Alcohol can disrupt your sleep, spike blood sugar, and affect your digestion, not to mention lower your inhibitions around food. If you’re drinking, alternate with water or choose one or two drinks you truly enjoy and skip the rest.
4. Focus on the fun, not just the food
What makes a night special isn’t just what’s on the plate. Connect with people, soak up the atmosphere, dance if you want to! Food is part of the picture, but not the whole story.
5. Choose what matters most
Not every event needs to be a blowout. Decide in advance which gatherings or traditions really matter to you, and go all-in for those. For others, you might choose to keep things lighter. This creates more balance without missing out.
6. Have a gentle reset plan
It’s not about being “back on track” the next day with celery sticks and guilt. Just return to your regular, nourishing routine, plenty of water, colourful veggies, rest, and movement you enjoy.
7. Tune in, not out
Instead of checking out and eating on autopilot, check in with how your body feels. Are you enjoying this? Are you still hungry? Would something else serve you better right now?
8. Be kind to yourself
One meal won’t make or break your progress. It’s the patterns over time that matter. Allow yourself to enjoy without shame. That’s part of living well, too.
9. Set your own version of balance
You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You can honour your body and your goals your way. That’s what creates lasting, feel-good change.
10. Stay hydrated
Busy schedules, central heating, alcohol and salty snacks can leave you more dehydrated than usual. Drinking enough water supports digestion, reduces cravings, and helps you feel more energised.
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