Health Tips

Chinese New Year is fast approaching us. With festive events comes visiting relatives, catching up over meals, and the wide assortment of our favorite sugary and buttery snacks like pineapple tarts. Suffice to say, it is easy to over-indulge and be lax on the usual diets and exercise regimes we follow. Thus, here are some tips for eating healthy during the festive season.

1. Moderation

To avoid overeating, many may resort to simply not eating anything. Although skipping the dessert platter is one of the better ways to stay healthy, it is not good to avoid eating food altogether. There is nothing wrong with indulging in a festive dinner with family, so long as you eat in moderation. It means ensuring the meals are healthy and nutritious, with a large portion of greens and a balanced meal.

2. Home-cooked food

By opting for homemade food, it guarantees healthier food options. Processed canned food and premade food are full of excess salt, sugar, and preservatives. Another way is to use healthy alternatives in your food or cooking method. For example, cooking with less butter and oil or baking meat instead of deep-frying. 

3. Eating slower

Studies showed that eating slower gives our stomach more time to send signals to our brain that we are full, which reduces the chance of overeating. Portion control also helps with overeating. By reducing the meal size, mealtime is also reduced and overall improves digestion. You can start reducing your portion control by using smaller plates or reducing the number of dishes served each meal.

4. Taking care of your body

Taking care of your body sounds generic, but it does help in staying healthy. You can take care of yourself by simply drinking more water and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Exercising or meditating is also good for the body and helps relieve stress. If you are only available to do short workouts throughout the day or even just a quick walk after meals, it is still better than nothing. 

Staying hydrated and exercising would always help your well-being in general and these steps can be implemented daily, not just during the festive season.

With that, wishing all a Happy Chinese New Year!

References:

1. Elliott, B. (2019, April 5). 20 tips to avoid weight gain during the holidays. Healthline. Retrieved January 4, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tips-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain
2. Gotter, A. (2018, March 6). Healthy holidays: Tips and recipes for Healthy Eating. Healthline. Retrieved January 4, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-holiday#tips-and-tricks