Six healthy tips

One: On Christmas Day half cover the dinner plate with vegetables. Eat slowly and leave a gap before diving into the plum pudding.

Two: Have low fat custard instead of brandy butter and roast the potatoes in olive or rape seed oil not goose fat.

Three: If planning to go out for dinner have a light lunch.

Four: Even if you can’t manage the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week grasp every opportunity for “incidental exercise”, such as using the stairs and not the lift, and getting off the bus at least one stop early.

Five: Don’t buy a skipful of chocolates – you will probably get plenty of sinful gifts.

Six: Stop eating when comfortably full. Don’t keep going until you feel stuffed.