If there is any year when all the rules we have go out the window, I’m guessing this year is the year. Who would have thought we’d be home schooling, working from home, all the gyms and sporting venues close down and so much more. I mean, Coles even stopped delivering my groceries there for a while!

It seems we get to this time of the year every year and we wonder where the year went. We have commitments all throughout the month and time flies by. Yes, it can be a lot of fun, but not being home, eating away from home and just being time poor can cause us to fall back into old habits quite easily and make some poor food choices. Sometimes the easy option isn’t necessarily the healthiest option. Right?

So here are my top 6 tips on how to stay on top of your food game during the Christmas and New Year season.

1. Order Your Groceries Online
   Hands up who has done any online shopping this year? We don’t even blink twice when ordering anything else online however there seems to be a bit of resistance for grocery shopping online. I’m a bit disappointed Aldi don’t offer home delivery, but I find with my monthly subscription, I get unlimited deliveries each month, it stops me from going to the supermarket every second day and filling my trolley with things I don’t need.  I find that having a list on the fridge means that if we need something, I just add it to the list and when I do my online order, I don’t forget anything that we need.
   
2. Meal Planning
   I have a meal planner just like this one which I use to list all of our meals for the week and from that, I can develop my shopping list (and put our online order in).
   
   
3. Batch Cook
   I pick one day of the week (Sunday usually) and I cook in bulk what we are having for dinner that week. I’m not so good at lunch meal prepping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be! Wet dishes tend to be the best when it comes to freezing and reheating as they retain all their moisture and aren’t too dry.
   
4. Be Prepared
   If you are anything like me, you run from one place to another to another and food just kind of has to fit in there along the way so the best thing to do so you aren’t reaching for the not so good options is to pack a few things with you for the day. A piece of fruit, a box of nuts, a protein bar, some roasted chickpeas. All handy items that don’t need refrigeration or cutlery to eat but will tie you over until your next meal.
   
5. Choose Wisely
   If eating away from home pay particular attention to these two things- how it is cooked and what ingredients they use. All food can be made healthier by either changing the way it is cooked or the ingredients used to make it. You don’t need to limit your enjoyment of eating out, you just need to be mindful of how much and what types of foods you are choosing. Often tapas style meals or sharing a main meal or ordering an entrée size will work well post-surgery. Try to choose lean protein i.e. grilled/steamed/poached fish, red meat, chicken, tofu, egg based dishes that are served with salad or vegetables (that are not deep fried!)
   
6. Stay Hydrated
   As we get busy and we get distracted throughout the day, we can forget that in between meals is the most important time to drink in order to maintain our hydration. Remember, it comes down to frequency. You just need to keep drinking all day long.

Click here to read another article I wrote: Setting New Year Resolutions Post Bariatric Surgery

Yours truly,

Brianna Fear-keen
Accredited Practising Dietitian, WLSA.