How to Enjoy the Festive Season Without the January Regret

The festive season is brilliant — connection, celebration, great food, the odd cocktail (or three). But it can also be the perfect storm: disrupted routines, office parties, rich meals, endless nibbles, and suddenly you’re wondering how on earth you’ve ended up eating chocolate coins for breakfast.

Angela Gipson, our Nutritional Therapist at Revive, has put together a grounded, realistic survival guide to help you enjoy Christmas properly — without restriction, without guilt, and without needing a full detox in January.

This isn’t about dieting; it’s about smart swaps, simple habits, and staying well while having fun.

Below is a preview of the guide — and you can download the full PDF at the bottom of the page.

Start with Realistic Expectations

Christmas isn’t the time to “be good.” Trying to diet usually backfires. Angela recommends setting a maintenance goal instead — a far more achievable way to enjoy yourself without spiralling into “I’ve ruined it so I might as well…” thinking.

Top mindset reframe:
“I’m choosing what helps me feel good — not punishing myself.”

Don’t Turn Up Hungry

Walking into a party starving is a one-way ticket to eating everything in sight. Have a small snack beforehand so you can make calmer choices once you’re there.

Try:

• A small handful of nuts

• A slice of ham with tomatoes

• Houmous and crudités (see snack list on pages 13–14)

Make Friends with Low-Carb Options

Angela is clear: low carb does NOT mean diet food.
It’s simply a way to avoid the rapid blood sugar spikes that lead to cravings.

On page 8, she reminds us: fill half your plate with non-starchy veg, a quarter with protein, and keep the starchy options small and intentional.

Better festive choices include:

• Turkey (page 9)

• Chestnuts as a stuffing alternative

• 2–3 new potatoes rather than a mountain of roasties

• Steamed and roasted vegetables (ideally half the plate)

Starters — what to avoid:

• Bread

• Pastry

• Sweet dressings

Starters — what to choose:

• Melon & Parma ham

• Soups

• Smoked salmon & salad

Mains — avoid:

• Lots of roast potatoes

• Yorkshire pudding

• Sweet sauces like redcurrant jelly

Mains — choose:

• Turkey

• Chestnuts

• A few new potatoes

• Plenty of veg

Drinks — avoid:

• Baileys

• Sugary cocktails

• Beer

• Fizzy drinks & diet alternatives

Better drinks:

• Champagne

• Dry wine

• Spirits with sugar-free mixers

• Lots of water

Breakfast That Sets You Up Properly

The guide includes some brilliant low-carb breakfast suggestions to prevent blood sugar spikes and mid-morning grazing:

• Lean ham, tomatoes, nuts & fruit

• Smoked salmon & scrambled eggs

• Creamy berry smoothies

• Two-egg omelettes filled with veg, mushrooms, or cream cheese

These are colourful, quick, and perfect after a late night.

Dessert Without the Sugar Crash

Angela provides two great options:

• Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters — easy, kid-friendly, and far lighter than traditional puddings

• Low-Carb Christmas Cake — all the nostalgic flavours without the heavy load of dried fruit and sugar

Both come with full recipes in the downloadable guide.

Sensible Snacking

Snacks don’t need to be the enemy — you just need ones that don’t send your hunger (and mood) swinging.

Better snack ideas include:

• Nuts (small handful)

• Celery with peanut butter

• Feta & olives

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Houmous & crudités

• Yoghurt with berries

• Dark chocolate (20–25g)

Eating Out Without Panic

Christmas meals out can feel full of hidden sugar, but the guide breaks it down simply:

• Choose vegetable sides

• Avoid fried foods

• Ask for sauces on the side

• Share starchy dishes

• Skip the bread and prawn crackers

• Have a starter or dessert — not both

• Choose jasmine or peppermint tea to finish

And remember: you’re in charge of what goes in your mouth, not the waiter or your mates.

🎁