Can dieters really have a Merry Christmas?

It's Christmas - a warm and wonderful time of sparkling fairy lights, party dresses and delicious treats with family and friends. Or is it a time of over-eating, guilt and a shed-load of work to do when it comes to the New Year's resolution?

The most important thing to remember is that Christmas is simply not the time to worry about losing weight. It's positively antisocial to refuse the mince pie in favour of a carrot stick! And for all but a few extraordinarily driven people, there's just got to be a bit of over-indulging.

So, start out by giving yourself some leeway. And enjoy yourself!

Balance is what you need. Celebrities might not be known for their wisdom, but they do have to look after their looks and their health - and that's where they do tend to know what works (ignoring a few of their weirder diet fads, of course!).

Davina McCall says there's no quick fix solution so, if she knows she's going to over-indulge, she'll do some extra exercise that day to make up for it.

Demi Moore stops herself even wanting to over-eat by drinking herbal teas to keep her appetite in check between meals.

Victoria Beckham loves red wine, but believes that eating strawberries, if she's having a tipple, gives her a bit of good to balance the bad.

Follow our Christmas food survival guide - and give yourself a carefree, guilt-free Christmas.

Shop Wisely
When you're out buying the cranberry sauce, add some healthy snacks to your basket too. Things like fresh fruit, raw nuts and seeds can look just as tempting laid out on the buffet or snack table. Having some healthy choices in the house is a really sensible idea too - stock up on dietplus biscuits and snack bars so they're handy. And don't go shopping when you're hungry!

Make Small Changes
Making slight changes to your recipes can make them healthier without sacrificing taste. Mash your potatoes with skimmed milk instead of butter or cream; parboil vegetables you're going to roast and then brush them with oil (rather than pouring it over) before putting them in the oven - they'll be just as crispy and delicious. You can even use a good vegetable or nut oil instead of butter in cakes and puddings.


Get the Party Started
Lots of party foods can be baked in the oven rather than fried. Tuna blended with low-fat ricotta, lemon and pepper makes a delicious dip, and hummus is a delicious alternative to fat-laden creamy dips. Use vegetable crudités (like celery, carrot and peppers) alongside the bread or savoury biscuits.

Avoid the Hangover
Remember to keep drinking water - alternating a glass of water with a glass of wine or whatever you drink should stop you feeling ropy the next day. Herbal teas the following morning will help a hangover - especially dietplus Aloe Vera Regeneration Tea. This is a special blend of green tea with mint, nettle leaves and other herbs.

Breakfast Is Good
Even if you know you're going to be having a big lunch or dinner, don't miss out on breakfast. A healthy breakfast of dietplus wholemeal oat flake cereal with apples and cinnamon is deliciously warming at this time of year and will actually help you balance your appetite during the rest of the day.

Scrummy Turkey
Christmas turkey is great if you're watching your weight. It's packed with protein and other nutrients, including zinc. It's lower in fat and calories than many other meats, especially if you go for the breast. A 90g serving of roasted, skinless turkey breast has just 140 calories and 1.8g fat compared with 160 calories and 5.9g fat in the same sized serving of dark meat.

Pile on the Veg
Make your Christmas plate a colourful plate! Sprouts, carrots, red cabbage - the more vegetables, the better. Steaming them gives you more vitamins and minerals. You don't need to garnish them with butter either (just a teaspoon adds 35 calories and 4.1g fat to your meal) - and who'll notice it's missing once the gravy's on!

Time for Pudding
No need to say no - just have a small portion to start with. If you still think you want more, make yourself wait 10 minutes. You'll probably find the urge has gone. And when it comes to choosing what to have with the pudding (or with the mince pies, for that matter), remember that custard contains more calories than cream or brandy butter, even if you make it with skimmed milk. You might be better off going for a splash of single cream.