What to eat at a Christmas party

As we head into the festive season, we’re sharing a few tips and tricks to help you enjoy all the festivities without compromising your health goals. Knowing what to eat at a Christmas party can be one way of making sure you don’t miss out on the fun while remaining on track with your weight loss goals or general healthy lifestyle.

The Fast 800 is a long-term lifestyle, rather than a fad ‘diet’. We understand that celebrations and events will come along and it’s important you don’t experience guilt or worry about overindulging. To help you enjoy yourself whilst at a festive event, without straying too far from healthy habits, we’ve compiled a few key tips for before, during and after an event, and what to eat at a Christmas party.

Leading up to the event:

• • Be open with colleagues or friends ahead of the event if you’re cutting back on alcohol. They may be able to provide alternative options and this can also help reduce social pressure. Remember, this is your journey and you will be in control, rather than taking the lead from those around you.
  • If you’re asked to select menu choices of what to eat at a Christmas party, focus on protein and fibre. Meat and fish with a side of vegetables is a good base to start from, you may also want to consider requesting additional vegetables in place of heavy, starchier carbohydrates – we’ve found that there’s no harm in asking and a lot of venues will be accommodating.
  • If you’re following The New 5:2 diet, move your fasting days so they don’t fall on event days. It’s designed to be a flexible way of eating, so keep that in mind when planning out your weekly meals.
  • Use time-restricted eating (TRE) to your advantage by delaying your breakfast or eating two meals in the day leading up to the event. This can minimise the effects of any over-indulging later on.

During the event:

• • While cutting out alcohol is undoubtedly the healthier option, you may choose to still indulge in an alcoholic drink. If so, have a glass of still or sparkling water between drinks to stay hydrated and help you pace yourself.
  • If there’s a buffet, fill your plate with vegetables first. They are high in fibre and often lower in calories, so they’re sure to fill you up while steering you clear of saturated fats or ultra processed foods.
  • When thinking about what to eat at a Christmas party, be selective with canapes as it can be difficult to keep track of exactly how many you’re eating. Where there are a few options, opt for the healthiest looking ones first and see how you get on.
  • Take your time and eat mindfully. Ensure you are paying attention to each bite of the food so you don’t mindlessly eat. It’ll not only reduce hunger later on, but it’ll be more enjoyable too.
  • Most importantly: enjoy yourself!

After the event:

• • After you’ve focused on what to eat at a Christmas party, it’s time to focus on what to drink afterwards. Hydrate after a festive night out by keeping a bottle of water or fruit-infused water by you at all times. Herbal teas can also be a comforting way to rehydrate if you’re feeling delicate!
  • Go back to your usual routine. There’s no need to reduce calories further than your usual daily intake or increase exercise, as one day will not affect what you’ve achieved so far.
  • Feel proud of yourself. You’ve overcome a challenge that many people face when focusing on their healthy lifestyle. Finding balance is an important part of forming sustainable healthy habits, and we’re delighted that you’ve been able to achieve this.

Ultimately, the occasional indulgence will not cause you harm in the long run. Memories with friends and loved ones are much more valuable to your health, so make sure you’re prioritising your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health when thinking about what to eat at a Christmas party this year.

The Fast 800 Programme is there to provide support throughout the festive season, with new recipes, helpful meal plans, mindfulness resources, beginner-friendly exercises, support from Health Coaches and more! Sign up to your 7-day free trial today to get started.