Festive Tips on Plan & a Recipe

Christmas on a diet? Don’t be alarmed. These handy little tips are designed to help you stay on track AND make it a Christmas to remember. With a delicious on-plan recipe, tips for healthy swaps and the one-to-one support of your Consultant, there’s no reason you have to miss out on the festivities.

Right, let’s tuck in…

11 Ways to Stay On Track This Christmas Without Missing Out

The Planning

1. Get festive with menu planning! Think yummy low-fat foods and healthy ways of cooking. Check out the rest of our blog for some inspiration, or scroll down to the bottom of this article for a seriously yummy recipe!

The Shopping

2. Shop mindfully. Even if they’re tempting, steer clear of special deals on high-calorie goodies.

3. Peek at the labels – lots of Christmas treats can sneak in extra fat and calories.

The Main Event

4. Keep only what you truly need in your fridge and cupboard.

5. Enjoy plenty of fresh veggies – healthy and filling, they’re crunchy bites of goodness!

6. And always remember, it’s perfectly fine to say “no, thank you.” Your choices are important, and asserting yourself is a wonderful form of self-care.

The Snacks 

7. Swap nuts and crackers for our POP Squares - they’re a great evening snack alternative at only around 100kcals a packet. Why not try the limited edition Sweet Chilli Flavour? Grab them before they’re gone!

8. Fancy something sweet? Treat yourself to a mug cake - they’re heavenly. We’ve got two tasty flavours to choose from: Chocolate and Toffee.

The Drinks

9. Stay hydrated  – make sure you’re sipping 2.5 litres or 4 pints a day. And guess what? Hot black tea or coffee can chip in too. Not only will it help to keep hunger at bay, but it also keeps you toasty. Double win!

10. Watch out for liquid calories. Alcohol can be packed with calories. Try experimenting with the water flavourings to create festive mocktails. We’ve got five sweet flavours to choose from.  

Ask for Support

And finally, if you have any worries, or are just looking for a little motivation, reach out to your Consultant; they’re there to support you and can offer guidance on flexing your Plan to suit you.

Festive Pasta Recipe

Let’s get to the good bit: a tasty, Christmassy recipe for you to try out. This time, we’ve taken our NEW mouthwateringly good Step-Up Meal (Mediterranean-Style Tomato Pasta) and given it a Christmas twist! We didn’t think it was possible, but the herby sausages, seasonal nutmeg and sprinkling of Parmesan make this Step-Up meal even more delicious. 

This super-simple dish is ready in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for craving something a little more decadent this Christmas. So go on, enjoy!

Good to know: 

• 385 calories 
• 1 person
• Suitable for Step 4, 5 & 6

Ingredients:

• 1 x Mediterranean Tomato Step-Up Meal 

• 2 x chicken sausages (grilled with nutmeg sprinkled on) - Heck Chicken 10 Italia Sausages 340G - Tesco Groceries 

• 2 x low fat & salt bacon medallions -Tesco Reduced Fat & Salt 8 Bacon Unsmoked Medallions 240G - Tesco Groceries 

• 20g broccoli  

• ¼ red onion 

• 15g parmesan cheese

Method:

Step 1: Finely slice the bacon into strips and wrap around the sausages, adding a sprinkling of nutmeg 

Step 2: Cook them under the grill, according to the instructions on the sausages’ packaging

Step 3: Spray some low-calorie cooking spray into the pan 

Step 4: Slice onion and add to the pan, cooking until brown

Step 5: Chop and add the cooked ‘pigs in blankets’  

Step 6: Make the Mediterranean Tomato Pasta Step-Up Meal and add to the pan 

Step 7: Mix everything until combined

Step 8: Take off the heat, stir in the Parmesan cheese, serve and enjoy!

Loving this festive inspo? Then make sure you check out the many other recipes and recipe hacks on our blog.