Come October and the whole country is bathed in the colour of festival. amilies get together, old riends catch up. But all the merrymaking sure has an adverse effect on our health. Some call it festival calories. Easy to gain, it can take you months to get rid of them once all the fun is over. Self control is important but what really helps is taking small but effective steps to ensure that you don’t end up with a potbelly. So this festival don’t switch off your mental calorie count and eat intelligently.
Watch your calorie intake: It is not necessary to pick up a rasgulla every time the serving tray goes around. Learn to say no. You could opt for low fat sweets made off natural sweeteners like jaggery and dates. You could also go for baked snacks instead of fried. If you are throwing a party at home, try simple bites like cut salad with a hung curd dip or baked samosas with pea filling. For the desert you can make a refreshing apple crumple and serve it with low fat vanilla ice cream. The combination of cooked apples and nuts is a good substitute for heavy deserts like cake or mousse.
Drink lots of water: If you have back-to-back party dinners lined up, make sure you increase your intake of water. This will help flush out all the toxins and will increase your immunity.
Serve in smaller plates: Most people don’t go for second helpings and eat whatever they get in their plates in the first helping. Smaller plates means less quantity of food. This will keep your calorie intake under control.
Eat before heading out: Eating fruits or vegetables before hitting a party curbs down binge eating. Going to a get-together on an empty stomach means high calorie intake. If you have already eaten you will automatically slow down and eat less. Say no to aerated drinks: So you have been avoiding all the junk and eating healthy. But the weight scale shows a different story? It is probably because of the artificially sweetened drinks you have been binging on. It is time to ditch the fizzy delights and stalk your fridge with fresh juices and lemonade. At a party don’t settle for aerated drinks. Quench your thirst with water or add lemon and salt in a glass of water and drink. This is really refreshing.Here are some popular festival foods that you’re going to encounter in the next few months. Keep in mind that it takes approximately 30 minutes of walking 5 kmph to burn 100 calories. Eat wisely