Festive food and health: how to balance good health and festive food
The festive season is coming soon. Durga Puja, Navaratri, Dushera, Diwali, X-mas, new year, all are just coming one by one. During festivals, people are always ready to treat their taste buds with different types of dishes. Parties, going to restaurants, or clubbing are very common during this time.
When you are planning to go outside for food you always need to be careful about which type of food you consume, how much you can eat, etc. This is because of your health, especially if you have any health issues like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or if you are obese.
Keep in mind during the festive time
When you are taking home-based food:
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Try to take at least one meal at your home which must be included with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc. Try to use less amount of oil in your homemade foods.
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Consume less oily or less spicy and easily digestible foods at your home. It can help to relax your stomach.
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Include homemade curd, salad, or raita in your diet. It will help for easy digestion.
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Drink a sufficient amount of water that can help you to keep hydrated and flush out the wastages.
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At your home, try to portion control your food.
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Try to be active. Do some physical activities at least two or three times weekly during festive times.
When you are going for outside food:
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Know about the place or food qualities or about hygiene before going. During the coronavirus situation, proper hygiene is very important.
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Always try to carry your own water or drink mineral water. Avoid the usage of tap water outside. If you wish to drink juice or some other drinks, better to buy a sealed container.
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Try to avoid deep-fried food outside. Due to the continuous burning of oil, it is converted into trans-fat which is carcinogenic.
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Ensure the food which you take outside must be freshly prepared. Avoid those foods which are kept outside for a long time like salad, especially during coronavirus situations.
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For people who are suffering from health issues like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc., it is better to avoid outside food as much as possible.
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Lastly, due to this pandemic situation, don’t forget to keep your own mask and hand sanitizer.
Enjoy the festivals with healthy sweets:
In Indian culture, any occasion without sweets is just incomplete! There are various types of sweets all over India. Usually, experts suggest that if you want to be healthy or if you have any health issues like diabetes, heart disease, etc. then avoid or limit consumption of sugar, sweets, etc. But surprisingly, some Indian sweets are made with healthy ingredients. Therefore, during the festive time, you can include these in your cheat diet occasionally.
Gajar ka halwa:
One of the healthy desserts you can add to your diet. The dish is rich in beta carotene, fiber, b-vitamins, calcium, antioxidants.
Ingredients: Grated carrot, milk, condensed milk, cashew, resins, ghee, cardamom powder, sugar.
Teel (Sesame) ka laddu:
You can enjoy this sweet as a snack or as a dessert. Sesames are rich in fiber, good fats, calcium, iron, magnesium, B-vitamins, etc. which can help to boost up yourself.
Ingredients: sesame, jaggery, coconut, peanut, and cardamon.
Coconut laddu or barfi:
One of the most delicious sweet items which you can serve as a dessert. The main ingredient of this sweet item is coconut, which is rich in iron, manganese, copper, etc. It helps to prevent anemia, improve bowel movement, etc. Therefore, you can include this item in your festive special dish.
Ingredients: Grated coconut, sugar or jaggery, cardamon, etc.
Almond kheer:
If you wish to choose a healthy dessert for yourself then almond kheer is one of the best options. Almond contains vitamin E, calcium, protein, zinc, magnesium, manganese, unsaturated fat, etc. Almond is good for heart health, helps to maintain the cholesterol level, and others. So, if you wish to make a sweet dish with healthy ingredients then almond kheer is one of the best options for you.
Ingredient: almond flour, almond milk, sugar.
Laddu with puffed rice:
Puffed rice is a good source of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and some vitamins & minerals. It helps to prevent constipation, is easy for digestion, and boosts immunity. So, if you wish to taste the puffed rice in a different way then this sweet dish is for you.
Ingredient: Puffed rice, jaggery.
A quick guide to re-shape your body after the festival:
1. Focus on the quantity of food:
During festivals, people have to eat street food, fast food, deep-fried foods, etc. These are mostly rich in calories and fat. Also, at festive times people are mostly in relax mood. It means extra calories are stored in the body. Therefore, after the festival, you need to focus on quantities of food.
2. Include seasonal fruits and vegetables:
Fruits and vegetables are always very good options to boost up your immune system. So, add seasonal fruits and vegetables to your diet.
3. Take a small amount of food frequently:
Avoid taking heavy meals. Always try to take a small amount of food frequently. It helps to feel you less hungry as well as you can control your meal.
4. Physical activities:
After the festival, it’s very important to do physical activities along with a diet to get in shape. So, don’t forget to do physical activities.
At the end:
Foods of different festivals are adding extra flavor. So, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the taste of festive foods with limitations.
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