India is a country with so many religions and so many festivals. As soon as the new year passes, January itself starts with our festivals, specially from the month of August till December, every second day is like a festival. This starts with Lohri and goes till New Year. The best part of this are the number of sweets that we exchange, the snacks that we eat etc. It is important that we enjoy the festival and still maintain a good diet.
Here are a few tips to enjoy the food still maintain healthy eating:
- Low fat / low sugar ingredients: In most of the houses, people prepare high sugar and high fatty foods. You can ensure that you eat healthy by including low fat and low sugar food during festivals. In sweets – consume less sweets or low sugar sweets. At home, you can cook with sugar free ingredients. Use less oil while cooking or do not eat oily food every day. Eat sweets, when you have cravings for sweet and not when somebody is pushing you for it.
- Drink a lot of water: Keep drinking a lot of water to keep yourself hydrated, especially if you are fasting during festivals. If you like to snack a lot, ensure that you drink 1-2 glasses of water before snacking. Water fills the stomach nicely and ensures that you do not overeat the snack.
- Record your calorie intake: You can select food per the calorie intakes. Do not eat food which is quite high in calorie. Your festival shopping should be based on this only. So, if you like to eat namkeens, you can go for diet bhels. Select baked things over the oily fried things.
- Use a limited quantity of oil for cooking: In your daily cooking, you can try including olive oil over the refined oil. If you cook oily food like puris, bhaturas etc (Oily Indian breads) during festivals, ensure that you do not do that every day. Rather you can have one single day where you do so and rest of the day you can eat normal.
- Avoid aerated drinks: Avoid aerated drinks which is quite high in calories. Don’t even go for calorie free drinks. Encourage the habit of original juices or nimboo pani (lemon water) instead. Lemon water is the healthiest drink one can have. By avoiding sugar into it, you have can have a healthier version of it.
- Use smaller servings: While you are snacking, use smaller places and smaller spoons for serving. Big plates encourage eating more.
- Don’t keep the “Its ok” attitude: Its ok attitude (chalta hai) is the most dangerous attitude we can have during these festivals. Don’t keep eating things considering its ok to eat junk during festivals. Eat right quantities and healthy food instead.
- Don’t forget to exercise / walk: You get too busy during festivals that you do not get enough time for yourself, your exercise etc. Use time efficiently whenever you get it. Exercise for some time in the morning or walk if possible.
- Enjoy dances: Dance is also a good way of exercise. Dancing and losing weight are always related. You can enjoy your festivals and keep with dancing too.