Looking to get back on track after a big holiday season? Here are my tips when chocolate is still lingering… yes you can still have your chocolate and eat it too!

1. Sharing is caring

   Share your chocolate with your loved ones and you'll still get to enjoy that blissful chocolate moment without feeling sluggish afterwards.

2. Entertaining platters

   Load up your entertaining platters with fresh produce and add a few squares of chocolate if you have some leftover from the holiday season. For example, why not enjoy a vibrant cheese platter with wholegrain crackers, qukes, strawberries, nuts and few squares of dark chocolate.

3. Dark chocolate covered strawberries

   Dark chocolate is the better chocolate choice as it’s higher in cacao. Try making some dark chocolate covered strawberries by melting your leftover chocolate and dipping the strawberries in. Refrigerate and enjoy as a delicious dessert.

4. Mindful munching

   When you do eat chocolate, enjoy it mindfully. Remove distractions like your phone, the tv or your iPad and enjoy the blissful moment fully present. Taste the flavour, feel the texture on your tongue and have a sense of gratitude for the food you're eating.

5. Ask yourself, am I really hungry?

   During the holiday season, there's always lots of food around. Before eating, ask yourself, am I really hungry? Do I really need to eat? Eat based on your appetite rather than mindlessly eating when you're not hungry.

6. Forget the all or nothing approach

   Rather than choosing to overindulge or not at all, enjoy a couple of squares of chocolate and don't feel guilty about it. When you enjoy your chocolate with other whole foods, for example, fresh berries, you'll feel fuller for longer and two squares will be enough.

7. Try my almond brownie bliss balls

   Delicious and nutritious, my bliss balls will hit the sweet spot and knock that chocolate craving head on.

8. Don’t be tricked by vegan chocolate

   Vegan chocolate is not healthier than regular chocolate. In fact, vegan chocolate often contains sugars like agave nectar, coconut sugar or coconut nectar, which are still sugars and don’t offer any nutritional benefits. They can also contain coconut oil which is high in saturated fat and can lead to increased cholesterol.

9. Go fun size

   Choose fun size chocolates or those that come in individual wrappers, rather than buying large blocks of chocolate, as you're likely to eat less when chocolate is packaged in smaller portions.

10. Donate to a good cause

    Don't feel the need to eat leftover unhealthy foods in the house just because they're there. Take your chocolates into work or even better, donate them to a charity and feel that boost of happiness from the act of giving to someone in need.

11. Get personalised advice

    It's really tricky to tell if a product is healthy or not, so always see an Accredited Practising Dietitian who can help you tailor your diet to your individual needs.

healthy habits after the holidays

Ben from Hope Mornings welcomed Jemma back on the show to chat about getting back into healthy habits after the holidays.

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