How to enjoy Christmas party season without putting on weight by top celebrity and royal nutritionist GABRIELA PEACOCK… and no you don’t need Mounjaro or Ozempic

Whether you’re currently dieting or you’ve lost weight and are desperate not to regain, this is a time of year that makes people anxious. There are parties to attend and host, supermarket shelves heaving with tempting treats and then there’s the looming spectre of the big Christmas Day feast itself.

But celebrity nutritional therapist Gabriela Peacock has an important message: Don’t panic because it’s perfectly possible to enjoy the festive period without gaining weight or feeling deprived!

From royalty to movie stars and supermodels, the rich and famous have Gabriela on speed dial as the expert to call when they want to lose weight.

She’s rumoured to have helped Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their cousin Prince Harry shape up for their weddings, while models Yasmin Le Bon and Jodie Kidd trust her non-faddish, flexible plans that deliver fast results.

Here she reveals her tips for ­surviving party season…

Festive feasting

Now is not the time to start any drastic diet, but intermittent fasting – something I practise myself and get my clients to follow – is so flexible that it can easily be worked around festive celebrations.

The good thing about Christmas socialising is that you’ll know well ahead of time what days you’re going to be at parties and gatherings – meaning you can make plans to fast on the days you’re not.

It’s not healthy or necessary to eat all day long and fasting during this period will help your body to reset and detox. At the start of each week, look at your calendar and if, for example, Thursday and Saturday are your party nights, then consider doing a 16/8 fast (where you eat only during an eight-hour window) on three other days.

Celebrity nutritional therapist Gabriela Peacock has an important message: Don’t panic because it’s perfectly possible to enjoy the festive period without gaining weight 

Avocado and salmon on toast is a great option to eat if opting for the fasting method

When you fast, go down to two protein heavy meals a day with plenty of protein snacks in between. An omelette with vegetables and a little ham or cheese is a great way of breaking a fast; alternatively try a good quality bread (rye or pumpernickel) and have it with avocado and smoked salmon. A handful of nuts makes an excellent protein snack and there are so many to choose from this time of year (try seven to ten almonds or half a dozen brazil nuts).

Planning ahead helps you stay in control, and your body will thank you.

Move to beat stress

Christmas can be such a stressful time for women who bear the burden of most of the load. When our stress levels increase it spikes the hormone cortisol which throws our blood sugar out of sync and makes us much more likely to make bad eating choices and lose sleep. A burst of exercise is something that really helps keep cortisol in check.

Too busy to hit the gym or do a class? That’s fine. Wherever possible try to get outside in the fresh air for around 15-20 minutes every day – the benefits are enormous. A power walk around the park or chasing around with the dog will get the endorphins going every bit as much as a gym workout.

Going to the office party? Another good tip is to throw your heels in your bag and travel there in your trainers. Walk if you can or get off your train or bus a few stops earlier

Alternatively, buy some wrist and leg weights. When I’m busy I strap them on and wear them as I pace around my office. A burst of exercise will keep your metabolism fired up and burning calories.

One rule I made that I swear by is that I don’t take lifts. Ever. Whether I’m travelling one floor or ten – it’s the stairs every time.

Going to the office party? Another good tip is to throw your heels in your bag and travel there in your trainers. Walk if you can or get off your train or bus a few stops earlier. Once there, hitting the dancefloor will burn calories and stop you drinking so much.

Line your stomach

Protein is extra important during periods of heavy indulgence – on nights when you know you are going to be drinking, have a protein heavy snack (I swear by a hardboiled egg and some hummus and protein crackers) before you head out to slow down the release of alcohol into the blood stream.

Alcohol spikes our blood sugar ­levels and that, in turn, makes us crave food. When that spike hits you on an empty stomach your body cries out for carbs and sugar and before you know it, you’re piling your plate high at the buffet.

I enjoy wine but I always make sure I’ve eaten before I consume any as it stops me filling up on crisps and party food. Try some cheese with olives and nuts, cold meat or smoked salmon.

If you’re short of time, then a high-quality protein bar will do the trick.

Pick your poison

Alcohol is mostly OK, it’s the snacks we graze on when we drink and the sugary mixers we add to spirits that are the problem.

If you like spirits such as gin and vodka, don’t mix them with fruit juices as they’re loaded with additives and sugar, especially the ones you get in a pub.

If drinking spirits, then consider mixing them with low calorie tonics rather than fruit juices or fizzy drinks which are high in sugar

Instead choose one of the flavoured sodas or tonics such as Fever Tree’s Spanish Clementine (18 cals) or if you’re at home, M&S’s Mexican Lime and Sicilian lemon soda water (17 cals). It’s a way of adding a splash of flavour but very few calories. If you need something like cranberry or apple, then just add a tiny amount and dilute with soda or sparkling water.

Always match one glass of water to every glass of alcohol. It keeps you hydrated and when your stomach is full of liquid it slows your consumption of alcohol right down too.

Hangover help

OK, so you didn’t listen to me. You didn’t line your stomach with protein foods before you went out and you knocked back the prosecco without drinking water. Now, it’s the morning after and you’ve got a pounding head. What can you do to feel better without resorting to a greasy fry-up?

Even though your body is screaming ‘carbs carbs carbs’, it’s protein and good fats that you need to support the detoxification process. Have toast by all means but also have some salmon and avocado. Baked beans (the low sugar variety) contain lots of protein too. Eggs are the best hangover food because they are packed with B vitamins and give you energy.

Or how about whipping up a vegetable smoothie with any leftover veg in your fridge? Broccoli, carrot and kale are perfect, and if you need some flavour and sweetness throw in some green apple. It’s a great liver detoxifying nutrient injection.

Also, see if you can hold off on the coffee you’re craving and try green or matcha tea instead. They are high in the polyphenols your body needs to boost liver function.

Try the above, wait ten minutes and I promise you won’t want or need that fry-up!

Healthy swaps

If you’re hosting a party then it’s very easy to serve healthy, non-fattening canapes without your guests being any the wiser.

Instead of cheesy, creamy dips opt for delicious, protein heavy ones instead. Hummus, guacamole or beetroot dips are all great choices and if you don’t want to make them yourself then supermarkets have delicious options this time of year.

Something I adore that’s really old school is egg mayonnaise. It’s very filling and, despite what people think, mayonnaise is absolutely fine. I find that people don’t usually have a problem with eating too much fat, it’s the carbs that go with it that make us overweight.

When it comes to dessert, Ms Peacock like to slice up mango, arrange it on a platter, drizzle with passionfruit seeds and then heavily shave dark chocolate over the top

Look for high protein crackers and go for crisps made with chickpeas (branded as hummus crisps) or vegetable, lentil and kale ones. They are every bit as tasty as traditional crisps and come in a huge variety of flavours.

A big plate of colourful crudite with a variety of colourful dips makes an eye-catching centrepiece – much better than a mound of beige sausage rolls.

When it comes to dessert, I like to slice up mango, arrange it on a platter, drizzle with passionfruit seeds and then heavily shave dark chocolate (with high cocoa content) over the top.

It is so delicious and refreshing and doesn’t need any cream or ice cream to go with it. Cocoa contains tryptophan which will also help you sleep. Anther tip is to buy some very sweet grapes and freeze them, it’s just like ­eating hardboiled sweets – but much healthier!

The big feast

I wouldn’t want anybody to diet on Christmas Day, but the surprising thing is that much of this festive feast is really good for us.

If you’re having a late lunch then have a heavy breakfast because you’ll be less likely to be tempted by sugary treats. Massive gaps between meals are a temptation danger zone.

Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon feels like a luxurious treat but is also healthy and delicious.

We probably have more veg with our lunch than we do at any other time, so dig in. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and kale are fantastic for the liver.

As for brussels sprouts, yes, they are horrible if you boil them into oblivion but if you cook them properly they taste delicious. I roast mine in plenty of oil with lardons of bacon or pancetta – ghee is really good to cook with. It’s a pure fat with a high tolerance for heat and it gives everything a delicious creamy taste.

Turkey is also very low fat and high protein too and leftovers can be used for delicious stews and soups. If you make your own stuffing then consider adding quinoa in place of breadcrumbs, which gives it a very luxurious nutty taste.

Supplements

If you only take one supplement, then please make it a good quality multi vitamin (such as EverydayMe on my website) to support your liver function.

I’d also recommend taking magnesium at this time of year – it’s nature’s relaxant and will help if you are feeling wired and can’t switch off or you’re having trouble sleeping.

There are lots of different types of magnesium on the market, and many are poorly absorbed into the system so make sure you buy the right one – look for magnesium bisglycinate (also available from GP Nutrition).

And finally…

If you have a bad day when you were hoping for a good one, it’s fine. Be kind to yourself because we all slip up, especially at Christmas. Don’t decide that it’s game over and give yourself licence to overeat and booze for two weeks.

It’s tempting to think, ‘I’m starting a diet in ­January anyway, what’s the harm?’ But if you go into the New Year feeling bloated, sluggish and unhealthy then your chances of sticking to a diet won’t be great.

Finding balance and enjoying life by making healthy swaps is the key.

•  2 Weeks To A Younger You: Secrets To Living Longer And Feeling Fantastic by Gabriela Peacock is out now. For more advice from Gabriela, visit: gpnutrition.com
• As told to Claudia Connell