With the weather getting colder, the lights all lit up and the faint sound of jingle bells, we all know the party season is in full swing! With all of the excitement and merriment, it can be difficult to avoid sugar and calorie-laden treats that lead to holiday weight gain. Unlike most holidays, which are usually over following a week or two of indulgence, this party season lasts a whole month, which can be a real challenge for anyone trying to stay in shape or participate in a holiday training program.

However, being in training over the holiday period does not equate to hiding indoors and missing all the fun. There are ways you can do enjoy the party season and stay in shape. It is all about making the right choices when you are out, and if you are entertaining, provide choices which are delicious but also packed with protein to help with training.

Drinks and Cocktails

Sugary cocktails and sweet mulled wine can be some of the main culprits when it comes to holiday season weight gain. The high sugar content also makes a hangover worse, which is not great when having to get up early and exercise! Instead, if you want to drink, try red wine or vodka and soda with lots of fresh lemon and lime. Or, try making your own healthy cocktail jug. Lots of citrus fruits are great for the liver and will help with the detoxifying process, making you feel more ready for your early morning run. Coconut water is also good to drink and can even be added to cocktails, which will help keep you hydrated and replace any lost electrolytes.

Hors d’oeuvres

Hors d’oeuvres are ubiquitous around the holidays, and no Christmas party is complete without a cocktail sausage! Try to focus on and protein based appetizers, as keeping adequate protein levels is very important for training. Protein also keeps blood sugars balanced and sustains your energy. Avoid the pastry-based and bread-heavy appetizers that can contribute to holiday weight gain. Other bases that can be used are cucumber slices, vegetable rostis, and Chinese spoons, or even just skewers of meat, prawns, scallops and vegetable with dips are excellent options.

Here are some additional ideas below:

• Homemade mackerel pate or hummus with vegetable dips
• Quails eggs dipped in celery salt
• Chicken skewer with avocado, spring onion and lime dip
• Tuna and sesame tartar on a cucumber cup
• Prawn Asian salad on a Chinese spoon
• Beetroot rosti with smoked trout and watercress
• Seared beef fillet skewer with salsa verde dip

How to Avoid Feeling Overly Full and Fatigued

Tip 1:

When filling up your plate, really focus on the turkey and the vegetables and put these on your plate first, trying to leave the potatoes and bread sauce till last to limit these as much as possible. Making the right choices will help you feel lighter and more energized after eating.

Tip 2:

Be creative with vegetables by doing something a little more adventurous than some boiled peas and carrots. If you can manage this, you won’t mind having one less roast potato. Delicious festive vegetable can also be the best part of the meal!

My favorite holiday vegetables:

Braised red cabbage with apples
Carrot and swede mash
Sprouts with chestnut, peas and sage

The great thing about braised cabbage and vegetable mash is it can be made in advance and frozen, making life even easier on Christmas Day. You might even have enough time for a run, a perfect way to build up an appetite.

Enjoy a Festive Treat

Chocolate Orange Truffles

Instead of reaching for the Terry’s Chocolate Orange, or a handful of “well, they are only small” chocolates, why not whip up a batch of chocolate orange truffles? They are perfect for any sweet craving, calorie-dense yet will help to keep blood sugars balanced. They’re easy to make and completely guilt free, containing only almond, raw cocoa, dates, coconut oil and orange zest. They are a brilliant snack to take on the go, and the healthy balance of protein and fats will give fast, sustained energy, making it a perfect training snack.

The magnesium in the raw cocoa is also an excellent muscle relaxant that is great to eat post-workout. They contain only naturally occurring sugar, apart from a tiny amount in the optional coating, which is 90 percent cocoa. But if you want to avoid using chocolate altogether, when the truffles are rolled, dust them in cinnamon instead, which not only adds another festive Christmas flavor, but also helps to balance blood sugars. The dates provide sweetness, are high in nutrients and are a fantastic aid for the digestive system.

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1) Making sure the stones are removed, add the dates and orange zest to a food processor, blend until dates are chopped.

2) Add ground almonds, raw cocoa and almond butter, blend until well combined.

3) Keep the motor running and add the melted coconut oil.

4) When the mixture is fully combined and has started to form dough, switch off the food processor and pour contents into a bowl.

5) Roll the mixture into small balls and place on lined baking tray. (About 1 tsp. of mixture per ball)

6) If coating in chocolate, place the balls in the fridge to chill.

7) In the meantime, place the chocolate in a glass bowl and melt over a pan of water. When completely melted, allow to cool for a couple of minutes.

8) Remove truffles from fridge, coat each in the melted chocolate and place back on lined baking tray.

9) Top the truffles with a bit of orange zest, then allow to cool in the fridge.

10) If using cinnamon coating instead of chocolate, when the truffles are rolled dust them in the ground cinnamon before placing them in the fridge.

The truffles are best kept in the fridge as they go soft if left out for too long.