Don’t let all that partying pile on the pounds this year.

Buffet, canapés and booze are all bad news for the waistline. But with careful choices and a little self control, you can still party this Christmas without ending up looking like you’ve hidden the turkey up your jumper.

The average weight gain over the festive period is 5lbs and many people struggle to lose it the following year.

Party girl Sienna Miller knows that alcohol can really pile on the pounds. When she slimmed down to play Edie Sedgewick in Factory Girl, Sienna changed her diet rather than quit partying.
“I decided to drink vodka instead of wine because it has fewer calories” she said.

We teamed up with Caroline Deakin of SurgiCare one of the UK’s leading cosmetic and weight-loss surgery providers, for her top tips on partying food and drink..........

Be Snack Happy

What should I eat

* Avoid pastry. It is SO high in fat and usually the filling is too. So skip samosas, sausage rolls, vol au vents and quiche. Try salad and bread sticks and lean meat.
* Skip anything fried. Ditch deep fried mushrooms, Camembert balls or chicken wings in favour of smoked salmon, chilli prawns or skewered chicken.
* Choose healthy dips. Avoid high-fat creamy dips with crisp and choose the salsa option. Use breadsticks or crudités to dip..

Buffet Rules

* Aim for half your plate to be made up of salad or vegetable, avoiding creamy dressings.
* Fill up on potato skins, couscous or pasta. A portion of carbohydrate foods should be the size of your clenched fist or smaller.
* Choose a portion of lean meat or fish the size of your palm

Top partying tips

Eat something before you go out.

* Going to a party on an empty stomach means alcohol goes straight to your head and you feel hungrier.
Buffets are a dieter’s nightmare. Go once and then stay away. When lots of different foods are on offer we consume 25% more calories than if there is no choice.
* Keep busy. Hit the dance floor to avoid the buffet – dancing burns off 300 calories an hour.
Keep your hands full. Take a clutch bag so it’s impossible to balance a plate of nibbles with your drink.
Nibbles add up. A few crisp , the odd canapé, a dip, a spoonful of your partners pudding – they can all add up to more calories than an actual meal.
* Drinks count too. A few bad choices can undo a healthy diet. Some low-alcohol varieties of beer and wine have more calories as less sugar has been converted to alcohol.
Careful of sweet treats. One rich chocolate truffle can be as much as 90 calories. Four luxury biscuits as a nibble can provide as many calories as a meal.
* Avoid mince pies. They won’t fill you up – but they will add another 200 calories to your dailey intake.