How To Avoid Unhealthy Eating During Festive Season? Nutritionist Weighs In

It’s that time of the year again when Diwali is just around the corner. Apart from decorating the house, attending parties, dressing up, and indulging in festive meals, it is tough to control overeating. This leads to several digestive problems later and unhealthy weight gain. Hence, to avoid gaining extra kilos and to keep health issues at bay during festivals, it is essential to keep a check on what comes to your plate. So what should you do? We got in touch with Dt Garima, Senior Consultant - Dietician and Nutritionist, Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurugram who shares tips to avoid unhealthy eating during the festive season.

“Often, the season of celebration brings indulgence in rich treats, running and overeating to promote unhealthy eating habits. So one should start by planning a meal ahead of time,” she said.

Tips To Avoid Unhealthy Eating During Festive Season

Festivals mean a wide range of irresistible delicacies, like sweets, desserts, fried foods, etc. This becomes the most common reason behind people falling sick as they overeat, binge eat, eat unhealthy and junk food, alcohol consumption, and overcompensate the next day by skipping meals, over-exercising, and detoxing. This makes your body suffer in multiple ways. To avoid this Dt Garima has shared some tips you must keep in mind this festive season to avoid overeating.

Balanced Portions: Opt for moderate portions, including fruits, salads, and whole grains, rather than large servings of heavy foods.

Mindful Eating: Eat slowly, savour each bite, and listen to your body’s signals for fullness.

Avoid Skipping Meals: Don’t skip meals to indulge later; instead, snack on light options like nuts or yogurt to control hunger.

Healthier Cooking Methods: Choose baked, grilled, or steam-cooked dishes over fried or sugary foods for a healthier meal.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid mistaking thirst for hunger.

Limit Alcohol and Soft Drinks: Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, which offer only empty calories.

Enjoy in Moderation: You can enjoy festive meals without compromising your health if you eat in moderation. Don't go overboard after seeing your favourite snacks.

Stay Active: Keep yourself active by doing some physical activity or daily workouts. Don't sit in one place and laze around; this will make you gain unnecessary kilos. Even a simple walk together with family can get your mind off food and allow you to bond with your loved ones.

Get Enough Sleep: Not only unhealthy eating but not getting enough sleep can also lead to weight gain. Sleep restriction may increase your hunger hormone levels, leading to higher calorie intake. Further, inadequate sleep has been linked to lower metabolism.

Add Fibre-Rich Foods To Your Diet: Adding dietary fibre can reduce total calorie intake, which may help prevent weight gain during the festive season.

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