FESTIVE FIGHT: Avoid the Christmas bulge with our top calorie tips
BODY experts say that by cutting 500 calories a day you could lose 1lb a week – enough to look fabulous by Christmas, with a month to go until the big day.
And it’s easier than you think. Trimming calories from your daily food and drink choices can help you drop a dress size or go down a notch on your belt within a month.
We reveal easy steps to cut the calories from what you consume during a typical day to help you reach that 500-a-day fewer calorie target.
EGGED: Swap a full fry-up for scrambled eggs on toast – save 300 calories
BREAKFAST
Swap a full fry-up for scrambled eggs on toast – save 300 calories.
Spread jam on your toast, not butter – save 100 calories.
Swap a glass of orange juice for an ordinary orange – save 70 calories.
Swap two sausages for two rashers of bacon – save 100 calories.
Swap a blueberry muffi n for a pain au raisin – save 170 calories.
Top tip: Don’t skip it – people who eat breakfast typically burn 442 calories more during the day than those who don’t according to a University of Bath study.
BAKED: Swap a jacket potato with cheese for a one with cottage cheese – save 110 calories
LUNCH
Swap a Big Mac for a Subway Meatball Marinara – save 70 calories.
Swap a jacket potato with cheese for a jacket potato with cottage cheese – save 110 calories.
Swap a cheese sandwich for a prawn sandwich – save 100 calories.
Swap a tuna melt for a tuna salad – save 200 calories.
Swap a Cornish pasty for a large sausage roll – save 60 calories.
Top tip: Eat some low calorie soup before your lunch. You’ll eat 20 per cent fewer calories overall, according to US research.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Swap a pepperoni pizza for spaghetti bolognese – save 400 calories
DINNER
Swap a pepperoni pizza for spaghetti bolognese – save 400 calories.
Swap a portion of fish and chips at 900 calories for fishcake and chips – save 300 calories.
Swap a chicken korma for a chicken biryani – save 370 calories.
Swap egg fried rice for boiled rice at the Chinese – save 200 calories.
Swap two scoops of ice cream for two scoops of frozen yoghurt – save 100 calories.
Top tip: Don’t eat in front of the telly – you’ll eat up to 288 calories more, says a University of Massachusetts study.
CHOCO TREAT: Swap two chocolate digestives for two jaffa cakes – save 70 calories
SNACKS
Swap a packet of McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak Crisps for a packet of Quavers – save 160 calories.
Swap a Yorkie for a Flake – save 80 calories.
Swap two chocolate digestives for two jaffa cakes – save 70 calories.
Swap a pork pie for a Peperami Original Stick – save 180 calories.
Swap a banana for an apple – save 50 calories.
Top tip: Avoid faddy low fat snacks – research says we eat 28% more when we choose them.
SMOOTH: Swap a strawberry milkshake for a strawberry smoothie – save 240 calories
DRINKS
Swap a latte for an Americano with milk – save 200 calories.
Swap a strawberry milkshake for a strawberry smoothie – save 240 calories.
Swap a can of Coke for a can of Diet Coke – save 135 calories.
Swap a can of 4.5% beer for a can of 2.8% beer – save 100 calories.
Swap a small glass of wine containing 120 calories for a vodka and Diet Coke – save 70 calories.
Top tip: Research shows that sugary drinks are less good at making you feel full than food.
The post Beat the Christmas calorie count: Top tips to fight the festive bulge appeared first on Irish Daily Star.