Will you gain some festive fat?

Did you know that on average, people put on between 2kg and 4kg of "festive weight" over the Christmas Holiday period?

Here are some tips for managing festive food:

Start the day of a party with a healthy breakfast. If you know there will only be high-calorie foods at the party, eat a little less than you usually would during the day (no starving).

Don't arrive hungry. Have a small healthy snack before the function to take the edge of your hunger.

Schedule an activity session before the party so you've burnt up calories in advance.

If you've been asked to bring a plate, bring a low-calorie dish you know you can eat.

If you are the food provider, plan your menus. Only buy and prepare as much food as you need.

Throw your own party and put on a low-calorie spread. Your guests may be pleasantly surprised at how tasty it is.

Let people know you are eating healthy foods and ask that they don't offer you fatty or sugary treats.

Set yourself a limit for alcohol before you start partying and stick to your plan.

Choose diet soft drinks, mineral water or plain chilled water.

When offered pre-dinner snacks from a platter, simply say "I've already tried it -- it was lovely, but I'll save myself for dinner."

Avoid stockpiling your plate with food you may not need, but are likely to eat. Take one or two items and come back for more if you are genuinely hungry.