Christmas is just over one month away which means many will start to think about picking up their festive food including Christmas dinner items. However new research from the Covid-19 Symptom Study app has shown that the average person can put on up to five pounds of fat over the holiday period on top of the average three pounds many put on during the first lockdown.
Health Brand New Nordic has looked at how Britons can look after their bodies by making slight changes on Christmas Day.
Through analysing the calorific value of each component to a Christmas dinner, New Nordic found that the average festive dinner can have up to 2,861 calories.
This is around 800 calories over the recommended daily allowance for the average woman and around 300 over that for an average male.
The biggest culprits are roast potatoes, which are over 600 calories per serving, and a serving of brandy butter which is around 500 calories.
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Filling up on vegetables like Brussel sprouts, carrots and broccoli can also help slimmers eat less of the other foods.
For those who don’t want to give up their festive favourites, expert Karl Kritstian from New Nordic has shared expert tips on how to avoid putting weight on over the Christmas period.
He said: “Have a protein rich Christmas dinner – avoid plates full of carbs and fill up on protein as it’s healthier and keeps you fuller for longer.”
The expert also recommends waiting 20 minutes before heading for a second plate of food.
Karl explained: “Studies show that you need to wait 20 mins before going for seconds, as this is the amount of time it takes for your brain to tell your stomach that it’s full.”
Eating too much is also a huge cause of weight gain, so watching portion control can help Brits still enjoy their Christmas dinner.
The expert said: “You don’t have to build a mountain on your plate. Stick to recommended serving sizes or use a smaller plate.”
As well as this, drinking a lot of water can help dieters stay full and Karl explained that a lot of the time people feel hungry is because they’re dehydrated.
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and this shouldn’t be skipped on Christmas Day either.
Karl added: “A common mistake is people don’t have breakfast as they know they’re having a big dinner later on but this is counteractive as you will scoff your face when it comes to dinner time.”
Keeping active is extremely important as it can help burn calories as well as keep minds distracted from snacking.
The expert explained: “Don’t just sit watching tv all day. Go on a walk during the day to either walk off your dinner or work up an appetite.”
According to Karl, snacking should also be avoided as much as possible or at least slimmers should be aware of how many snacks they are eating.
Limiting alcohol is also a huge part in helping to keep the weight off according to the health expert.
He said: “Liquid calories are worse than you think. The average Brit glugs 40 percent more alcohol during December, resulting in unwanted weight gain.”