Here’s how you can have your Christmas treats AND stay healthy

According to Dr Helen McCarthy, a psychologist, mindful eating over the festive period can help stop you over-indulging on everything you see

By simply thinking about what you are eating and enjoy the treat you can stop yourself from overindulging this festive season.

It seems like it is a never ending minefield of tasty treats designed to make you slip up and over-indulge, no matter how hard you are trying.

Is it even possible to say no to a mince pie?

But if you are trying to be good, and even lose a bit of weight, over the Christmas period then there is a way you can do it - hallelujah!

Enter the concept of mindful eating, which basically means you need to focus on and enjoy your food.

The theory is that by doing this you are able to acknowledge that you have indulged in a treat and will eat healthier in between.

You are also less likely to binge on bad snack food because you haven't banned it from your diet.

And you will notice when you are full quicker and therefore eat less.

Dr Helen McCarthy, The Appetite Doctor, said that being kinder to ourselves - so not punishing ourselves for eating a piece of cake - and eating mindfully can help you get through this festive season with ease.

"There’s no reason why you can’t throw yourself into party season with gusto, even if you’re trying to lose weight or to eat more healthily," she said.

It's hard not to give into temptation, but try not to ban certain foods

You are also less likely to binge on bad snack food because you haven't banned it from your diet.

And you will notice when you are full quicker and therefore eat less.

Dr Helen McCarthy, The Appetite Doctor, said that being kinder to ourselves - so not punishing ourselves for eating a piece of cake - and eating mindfully can help you get through this festive season with ease.

"There’s no reason why you can’t throw yourself into party season with gusto, even if you’re trying to lose weight or to eat more healthily," she said.

"Denying yourself your favourite treats and banning foods is the worst thing you can do when you’re trying to lose weight.

"Research shows when people who view certain foods as 'bad' are given a disallowed food {in the experiment it was a milkshake], they ate more ice cream in the second part of the experiment.

"This 'what the hell' effect happens because of thinking 'what the hell, I’ve already blown my diet by having that milkshake, I might as well keep going with the ice cream'.

"Even small amounts of a forbidden food have this effect.

"So banning your favourite foods when you’re trying to lose weight is very likely to backfire."

That means you shouldn't waste your Christmas chocolate, or say no to mince pies.

Getting plenty of rest will also put you in the right frame of mind for maintaining your diet over Christmas

Why not pair them both with a glass of Prosecco and enjoy that moment rather than feeling guilty for it - after all, you know it tastes good.

Helen, a clinical psychologist, said punishing ourselves instead of celebrating is counter-productive.

"Some people dread things like Christmas parties and they’ll either make an excuse so they won’t be 'tempted' to over-indulge, or they’ll go and order the most measly, miserable thing on the menu," she said.

"Or they’ll eat everything and then beat themselves up afterwards.

"Instead, I tell my clients that it’s so important that they relish every bit of that special meal and enjoy themselves.

"You just need to reduce your portion slightly but the most important thing is that you pay attention to what you’re eating.

"It will be easier to gauge when you’ve had enough. When you slow down and eat mindfully, you get much  more pleasure out of less food."

By Andrea Downey  (Digital reporter)