The festive season is just around the corner and it is party
time everywhere. Good food, liquor and dance are the key ingredients of a
happening party. But with all the fun and frolic, most people take their health
for granted and go out and out to enjoy every bit of it including binging and
boozing. Festivals are surely a great way to enjoy but they can be even more
memorable if you are in your best of shape and health. So here are some easy
tips:·
- Follow a regular meal pattern on the day of the party. People who deliberately skip meals to save the calories tend to overeat all the food they see at once and add plenty to their waistline.
- Munch on a big bowl of raw salad in the evening prior to the party as it keeps you full and helps to reduce the urge to binge.
- When at the party, take your time to get comfortable with the surrounding and scrutinize the food choices available. Opt for non fried, steamed or roasted starters.
- Buffet is an invitation to eat all that is available, but resist temptations and stick to a few favorite food options rather than taking little servings of all 20 different dishes. Start with a liberal helping of low fat salads with curd, lemon or vinegar dressings.
- Choose foods high in protein such as chicken/ fish (steamed, roasted or grilled) or dal and rice combo for vegetarians. Avoid biryanis and creamy and rich gravies and sauces. Go easy on full fat paneer. Opt for stewed rice rather than fried rice, pasta in red sauce rather than the white cheesy sauce and tandoori roti over roomali roti
- Do not overdo on alcohol as it is the easiest way to increase your fat stores. 1-2 drinks of red wine are a great source of antioxidant.
- To help digestion, have a glass of fresh lime water(less sugar) or jaljeera after a heavy dinner.
- Party hard, but exercise harder. Make sure to spare one hour of the day to burn all the additional calories and keep your BMR high to avoid piling on that unwanted fat. Let 1 hour of brisk walk or resistance activity do all the magic.
- Aim at leaving the party satisfied and not stuffed.
By
Neha Chandna
Nutritionist
