#healthinsider: HOLIDAY FOOD HEALTHY PEOPLE EAT

DON’T THINK YOU HAVE TO SPEND ALL SUMMER CRUNCHING ON CARROT STICKS AND RICE CRACKERS…

Simply make smart food choices and you can leave your healthy / bikini-body
guilt behind.

Here’s our guide to the best kilojoule-clever / healthier options that still taste great and leave you feeling satisfied {no carrots necessary}.

Treats every now and again, in moderation, are totally fine if your usual diet is healthy and you exercise regularly. A little of what you like, and to enjoy your food and to feel satisfied is important, but do it in a smart way that doesn’t blow the summer weight goals! Remember, control your snacks, don’t let them control you!

Here’s the healthy/slimmer-summer food scene advice…

AT THE MOVIES: Although popcorn is healthy, the buttered variety at the movies is not {a large size has 2260 kilojoules/28.8 grams fat}, so try getting your ‘nibble-through-the movie’ treat fix with a packet of M&M’s {55g pack} that has 1130 kilojoules/11.5 grams fat. If a chocolate bar is more tempting to your tastebuds, flick the Mars bar {that has 1050 kilojoules/ 9.5grams fat} in favour of a Milky Way {that only has 465 kilojoules / 3.7 grams fat}.

AT MARKET DAY / AMUSEMENT PARK: If you need a sugar fix, fairy floss {that has 547 kilojoules/ 0 grams fat} will win out kilojoule-wise over a frozen coke {that has 950 kilojoules/0 grams fat}. If you want something more substantial, choose a hot dog {that has 1467 kilojoules/13.4 grams fat}, instead of a sausage roll {that has 2028 kilojoules/26.7 grams fat} – but keep in mind, add tomato sauce {to either} and you’re adding 103 kilojoules and 5g of sugar!

AT THE CAFE: A chocolate chip cookie {879 Kilojoules/ 9.7g fat} wins out big-time over the smallest slice of chocolate mud cake, {that has 1815 kilojoules a slice / 22 g fat}. Another option: toasted banana bread {that has 770 kilojoules a slice / 7 grams fat}, just remember if you add butter, you add 620 kilojoules and 16.6 grams of fat.

AT YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY: Peanuts are healthy, right? Yes, but a small bowl of these ‘hard-to-stop eating’ snacks has an astounding 3505 kilojoules / 68.8 grams fat, while of bowl of crisp chips has 2899 kilojoules/46.3 grams fat. Your better options would be pretzels {that have 2099 kilojoules / 9.6 grams fat} or cashews {797 kilojoules/15.4g fat}.

AT THE SATURDAY ARVO BBQ: Be smart about your cuts of meat you’re bbq-ing. Rump steak with fat has 965 kilojoules / 9g fat while the leaner version {without the fat} knocks it back to 777 kilojoules/ 5.8g fat. And when it comes to salads, potato salad {1076 kilojoules / 10.4 g fat} is far healthier and a lot kinder to your waistline, than pasta salad which weight in with 1760 kilojoules / 22 g fat.

AT THE GELATO BAR: A thick shake seems pretty harmless, but it actually has {approx} twice the kilojoules and fat {1365 kilojoules/3.3 grams fat} of two scoops of ice cream, which has 816 kilojoules/11 grams fat. Try two scoops of sorbet instead {that has 520 kilojoules/ 0 grams fat}, or just go for one scoop of ice cream, and choose the most natural flavour.

MOVIE NIGHT IN: A plate of nachos seems the perfect food to have while vegging in front of a DVD, but it’s high in both kilojoules and fat, weighing in a whopping 4624 kilojoules, 59g fat. Your better option would be a couple of slices of cheese pizza {1142 kilojoules / 10g fat a slice}, just make sure you know when to stop – and try to eat it with a salad. It will help you resist the urge to reach for another piece and will help you digest the meal a whole lot better.

{Pic: Byrdie}