Eating out during the festival season is a given. But it's equally important to keep an eye on what and how much you're eating. Balance is key to good health. Here are some tips to get you going.
Even if you have a big meal waiting for you, don’t skip the earlier one. Skipping meals will only lead to over-eating later.
Eat fruits whole and not as a juice. Also try not to mix them up with other food in order to ensure the fruit’s benefits are absorbed by the system.
One of the best ways to eat out is to watch how much you’re eating. Keep portions sensible and eat from a small plate. Don’t pile food onto your plate.
It’s difficult to resist sweets during festivals. If you can’t find sugar-free sweets, try and stick to only the season’s specials and only a few. Avoid regular desserts such as chocolate and ice cream.
Add nuts and seeds to the meals you eat at home. Flaxseed, chia seeds, almonds etc are good for health and will also prevent you from over-eating when you go out.
Street food is delicious but most of them are deep fried, and the oil used is often questionable. If you really feel like snacking on samosas and puris, either make them at home and better still, bake them.
Leafy greens are recommended to give your daily diet a boost of health, even more so when you know at least one meal will be eaten outside. Spinach, amaranth, etc are great in dals or even as stir-fry. They also give your body the fibre it needs.
A lot of people don’t like tea without milk but it’s a good way to cleanse the system. A cup in the morning and one before bed can aid in digestion and help you to sleep better. Choose from regular green, ginger tea, tulsi tea or even some delicious chamomile.