Its the time of the year, first comes the joy then the bills and yeah how can you forget all the extra lbs from the holidays! I know I do it, so this year, I decided to get smart(I mean try ) and be better educated and take some precautions now, instead of regretting over it (again!). So I talked to my friend Anjali Dua, who is a Nutritionist and a member of SAPNA, an organization dedicated to increase awareness Diabetes, Heart disease and other health issue facing the South Asian community.
She recommended five key points that I thought I will share with you. Hopefully you can keep a few lbs away! Seasons greetings and happy holidays and most importantly, be safe.
Consider healthier alternatives- Instead of eating a plateful of samosas, pakoras or other fried food, why not eat a bowl of fruit or baked goods? Mangos, cantaloupe, and dates are great fruits, and baked pitas or boiled brown rice are great choices for the holiday. Spice up your creations this holiday season by cooking low-fat, low-sugar treats!
Eat five times per day- Spread out your meals and eat more often to help boost your metabolism. This also keeps your stomach partly full and prevents you from overeating. As a general guideline, try to eat three meals, and two healthy snacks per day.
Don’t deny yourself- It can be hard to give up your favourite foods, but completely depriving yourself of them will make you crave them more, and may result in you overeating! Continue to enjoy your favourite foods, but eat in moderation. (Yes, this means you can eat one samosa!) Try to eat smaller portions to satisfy your cravings.
Weigh yourself often –To motivate you to maintain a healthy weight that will help you look and feel your best, check and keep track of your weight. Weigh yourself at least once a week or every few days at the same time each day to determine if you are at your ideal weight, losing weight or gaining.
Make your holiday active- Exercise not only makes you look good, but it makes you feel good too. Engaging in light or moderate exercise such as dancing to your favourite Bollywood songs or going on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day for at least 3 days a week can really make a difference. As an added bonus, you can also enjoy more of your favourite foods if you workout regularly.
Dua also reminds everyone to see their doctor, dietitian or nutritionist before making any major changes to their diet.
