Eat Together - Eat Less
Words by Nicki Waterman 03/12/2005
Here’s another reason to look forward to Christmas dinner. The good news is you may actually eat less during sit-down family meals that when you eat alone in front of the TV. According to a recent study in the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, women who ate while listening to a detective story consumed significantly more calories than those who ate in a group. Experts conclude that if you munch while listening to the radio, watching TV or chatting on the phone, you may end up eating more as you’re not focusing on the taste and texture of the foods or how full up you are. Chatting during a family meal is different – you tend to concentrate on your food, perhaps because it’s the focus of your gathering and provides a sense of occasion. You also tend to take longer to eat than when sitting alone in front of the TV. WHAT'S INRibs If you don't fancy turkey then go for a lean beef rib roast - Ruby Wax’s favourite - 145 calories and 7g fat per 100g serving. Full of energy boosting iron that you will need to get you through the Christmas season. ChilliesEating a hot chilli starter deadens tastebuds and you eat less in your main course, cutting calories. CCKA clever hormone that is released in our stomachs to tell us we are full. Boost CCK with lean meats and a junk-free diet. Inner cleansingGive yourself a three-day pre-Christmas detox by having a glass of juice, two pieces of fruit and three servings of veggies a day to cleanse from the inside out. PetserciseGet the weight off while working out with your pets. See
www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/petsercise. WHAT'S OUTPork spare ribsMore Robbie Coltrane than Ruby Wax. With 195 calories and 13g of fat per 100g, best to give these a miss. Lamb vindaloos With 878 calories and 62g fat... Hot – but not healthy. High-fat dietsThey reduce our levels of CCK so we never know when to stop eating – even when we’re full. Colonic irrigationKim Wilde may be a fan but we don't recommend it. It messes up the delicate balance of good bacteria in your gut, which in turn lowers your winter immunity. Pooches in handbagsWhat happened to the good old-fashioned lead? YOU’LL LOVEIf you want to put a bit of posh fizz into your Christmas spirit, but not the calories, then splash out on a bottle of Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut. With just 60 calories a glass it is naturally sugar-free, making it the original low carbohydrate tipple. FABULOUS FITNESS GIFT LIST Pop these prezzies on your Christmas wish list and transform yourself into the honed, toned goddess you’ve always dreamt of being… 1 Super Tramp Folding Rebounder: a great way to tone legs, improve cardiovascular health and boost core stability – £59/€87 (00 44 800 197 1897). 2 Gold faux leather yoga bags: perfect for fashion-conscious fitness freaks – £85/€125 (
www.agoy.com). 3 Gaiam’s Pilates Body Circles: gets rid of bingo wings in no time – £24.99/€37 (00 44 870 241 5471). 4 MBTs: Jemima Khan swears by these chunky rocking-soled trainers to tone and burn calories – £130/€191 (
www.lovethoseshoes.com). 5 Playstation 2, Eyetoy Kinetic: the camera projects your image on to the screen and gives you a variety of exercises inspired by dance and kickboxing to copy – £24/€35 (
www.yeytoykinetic.com). CELEBRITY DIET TIPWhen you are on the festive party circuit do as Scarlett Johansson and sip very slowly on a long cool glass of something bubbly. It looks elegant, it feels elegant and with one gentle sophisticated sip at a time it allows you to keep track of your drinks without looking like a party bore. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SWAP SHOP10 top swaps to save calories and fat this Christmas 1 Mulled wine: 245 calories, 0g fat per 125ml glassFor...Bucks fizz: 100 calories, 0g fat per 125ml glass 2 Roasted turkey meat and skin: 120g serving with 223 calories, 10g fat For... Roasted light turkey meat: 120g with 183 calories, 2g fat 3 Sage and onion stuffing: with 100g ball 270 calories, 15g fat For...Bread sauce: 45g serving with 50 calories and 2g fat 4 Christmas pudding: 100g serving with 330 calories and 12g fat For...Mince pie: with 239 calories and 12g fat 5 Brandy butter: tablespoon 110 calories and 12g fatFor...Brandy sauce: 45g serving with 50 calories and 3g fat 6 Christmas cake: 70g slice with 225 calories and 6g fatFor...Stollen cake: 50g serving with 167 calories and 3g fat 7 Irish coffee: with 245 calories and 12g fatFor...Baileys: 25ml glass 80 calories and 4g fat 8 Quality Street or Roses chocolate: with 36 calories and 2g fat eachFor...Sugared almond with 19 calories and 1g fat 9 Slice of game pie: 140g with 500 calories, 36g fatFor...Turkey sandwich, 2 slices bread, reduced fat salad cream, lettuce and tomato: with 280 calories and 5g fat 10 A date: with 41 calories, 0g fatFor...A satsuma: with 25 calories, 0g fat
