WITH Christmas around the corner, the dark nights setting in and supermarkets being stocked full of tempting treats it's so easy to give in to those sugar or snack cravings.

Will that tub of chocolates just happen to slip into your shopping trolley this week? After all, it is half-price!

Then if it's there, you may as well eat it, right!

Well if you've got a little black dress or a nice fitted shirt to fit into for your Christmas do then you may want to rethink.

Here's few ways you can try and avoid temptation to snack and also to help shed a few extra pounds to look great for your Christmas party.

First and foremost, eat breakfast.

I always say this and it's true.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, if you miss this you are setting yourself up to fail.

Try to get protein into each meal which will keep you fuller for longer and avoid sugars.

Eating sugar, especially first thing in the morning, will send you on a blood sugar rollercoaster for the rest of the day making it almost impossible to kick those cravings.

Eat mid-morning, a healthy snack before lunchtime, maybe a piece of fruit or healthy snack.

Eating well through the first half of the day will help to stop sugar cravings mid afternoon or evening when we may want to snack, or over-eat.

In the evening keep your portion sizes reasonable, eat until you are satisfied rather than stuffed.

Then if you eat through boredom later in the evening, try distracting yourself with something else, read a book, paint your nails, go for a walk.

If you want to eat through habit rather than hunger then the feeling should subside.

Sugar is addictive, once we eat it, we will crave more of it.

Why not try to go a week without sugar, see how you do.