Karen Thompson, a multi-award winning Weight Watchers Leader, brings you tips and a healthy recipe to get your diet underway this autumn.
Karen runs two meetings at Saddleworth Rangers Rugby Club, Shaw Hall Bank Road, on Tuesdays at 6.30pm. To find out more call Karen on 07970 370336 or email KThompson@weight-watchers.co.uk
The party season starts earlier each year, with this year being no exception.
Christmas Markets get bigger and the supermarkets are overloaded with tempting, highly calorific foods. In fact in the three months leading up to last Christmas Britons spent 50per cent more on chocolate than in the rest of the year.
With most of us wanting to look and feel our best over the festive period these things can all throw us off track, so here’s a few helpful tips.
Firstly, recently in my meetings we looked at how portion sizes have grown both at home and when eating out so it might be useful to dig out a smaller plate and when eating out go for two starters or share a main course dish.
As Christmas gets nearer life gets more hectic and we can become time poor so now might be the time to start preparing and freezing some healthy meals so you’ve always got something filling to hand.
Parties present lots of temptations – alcohol (try alternating with a diet drink in between) and buffets (avoid anything beige, for example pork pies, sausage rolls & vol-au-vents as they are high in fat so instead fill your plate with colourful reds and greens and avoid returning to the table).
Also tempting are limited choice menus or a la carte (go for two courses instead ofthree, ask for any sauce on the side and fill up with fresh vegetables).
Make sure you eat healthy filling foods during the day, drink plenty of water andremember dancing is a great form of exercise.
When it comes to shopping never shop hungry: make a list, avoid the cake andchocolate aisles and don’t buy your Christmas treats too early – you’ll only end up buying them again!
A great way to avoid temptation is to shop online and this can save you money too.
The festive season can be jolly but doesn’t need to be unhealthy. Why not try out these delicious and simple Mini Ham Quiches, which all the family will love.
Mini Ham Quiches – Makes 4 (3 pro points each for Weight Watchers)
Preheat oven to 190C/170C/fan oven/ gas mark 5 & spray four holes of a deep muffin tin with calorie controlled spray.
Stack two slices of premium ham on top of each other, then gather up the edges andpop into one of the holes, then repeat with other three holes.
Beat four eggs together with 3tbsps of skimmed milk in a jug and season generously. Pour the mixture carefully into the ham cases until it comes to the top. Snip over four stalks of fresh chives.
Bake for 15 mins until filling is firm, leave to cool in tin and then ease out with a knife.
Finally, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. I’ll be back in January to help you start 2014 in the best possible way.
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