Everyone knows that it is very tough to be fit during festive seasons because, during this time, people will gather together to wander and enjoy and also eat together. You cannot control your appetite with your friends, so you should know what you are eating and what you should eat. Although eating with your friends is not wrong every time because eating together has plenty of benefits compared to eating alone. The main benefit is social interaction, which is essential for mental health and also suitable for increasing bonding. When you eat in a group, you can also order multiple dishes and then have a varied diet, and you should check this varied diet. Sleeping and waking up late, eating a lot of processed foods, a lot of sugar, and more alcohol than usual can hurt your body, and when the mood is just set for fun, it becomes much more difficult to keep fit. There are benefits to eating communally, but only if it is done mindfully. A communal holiday meal you should approach with caution is the large meal during the ceremony. Therefore it is important to Keep Fit This Festive Season with Healthy Foods.
Foods That Keep You Healthy During Festive Season
Many people experience weight gain at these holiday parties during the festive season because they get carried away with good cheer and are unaware of what and how much holiday food they eat. You inevitably gain unnecessary weight over time when you eat a lot of food but don’t use up the extra calories through physical activity. That’s why you need to control your appetite and select which foods are good for your health. These few tips will help you Keep Fit This Festive Season with Healthy Foods.
Drink more water instead of drinking calories and junk drinks –
A simple strategy to limit your calorie intake is to follow the simple rules of not drinking your calories. Drinking 320 ml of water reduces the calorie content of 320 ml of a soft drink. So opt for a few glasses of water instead of a bottle of juice, soda, or alcoholic beverages. Also, drink plenty of coconut water, green tea, buttermilk, lemon juice, and vegetable and fruit juices which help you to maintain adequate levels of body fluids and salt.
Add more fruits and vegetables to your festive diet –
During this season, most foods we eat are fried, oily, and high in calories. It is a good idea to include more fruits and vegetables. They contain fibre, minerals, and nutrients and are low in fat. Your gut is healthy, your skin is glowing, and you can keep your calories under control. Carrots, amla, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, oranges are all healthy options. When you eat sweets, it is good to set a limit on how much you will be allowed to eat.
Try roasting foods instead of frying them –
Tempting junk food is hard to resist, especially during the festive season. If you are one of those who avoid fried food all year round, then here is a solution for you. Roast those food items that you thought of frying first. Roasted foods not only taste good but also bring some promising health benefits.
Red wine is preferable instead of other alcoholic beverages –
If you are planning on drinking hard liquor this festive season, it is a good idea to switch to a glass of red wine, which has fewer calories than other alcoholic beverages. This red wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to blood vessels and also helps lower bad cholesterol.
Try sugar substitutes instead of eating sugar –
Sweet food is a must on the plate for festivals, and there is no counting how many. Eating delicious sweets can definitely affect your health, making you prone to weight gain. So use Jaggery instead of sugar this festive season. Use natural sweeteners like dates, figs, and saffron.
Swap tasty candies with healthy fruits –
Instead of sticking to candy, opt for fruits, as these fruits provide essential nutrients and several health benefits that satisfy your sweet tooth. Get some unique fruits for a particular day. Make your festival festive by getting some simple fruits like kiwi, plum, peach, cherry, lychee, strawberry, dragon fruit, rambutan, blueberry, etc. If you, too, suffer from a sweet tooth, replace traditional sweets like gulab jamun and rasgulla with some fruit salad. You can also have Srikhanda made with low-fat milk. But you cannot completely resist traditional sweets. Enjoy them in limit.
As a host, offer healthy dishes for healthy eating –
If you’re the host, make things easier for your guests by offering healthy meals. Serve lots of vegetables, so people fill up on them, offering high-fibre carbohydrates like brown rice, brown rice porridge, and whole-grain bread. by this way not only you but your friends will also Keep Fit This Festive Season with Healthy Foods. White rice is a hard habit to break, but you can make the transition by mixing brown and white rice together. Usually, seafood and meat make up the main course at a dinner party. Where possible, serve more fish, especially oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are high in omega-3-fatty acids and good for the heart. When you serve meat, offer lean cuts rather than fatty cuts. Remove the skin from poultry before cooking; for example, steam, grill, and boil your food to improve your health instead of deep-frying and stir-frying.
Start eating yogurt-based dips –
Swap that bowl of sour cream you have to dip your chips in with Greek yogurt-based dips that are low in calories and fat and would not harm your health. Also, it is a good source of calcium, protein, and probiotics.
Swap the white and milk chocolate with dark chocolate –
Everyone likes to have a whole bar of chocolate to themselves. But, overeating puts you at risk of gaining weight. Instead of giving white and milk chocolate gifts, try switching to dark chocolate this season. Dark chocolate contains cocoa, an antioxidant that helps prevent excess weight gain.
Eat raw nuts instead of salty nuts –
Not only does the sweet tooth need to be monitored, but the salt intake needs to be monitored. Cut back on salt, and swap salted nuts for raw nuts as they’re packed with protein, fibre, and heart-healthy fats.
Make sweets at home instead of buying them outside –
Instead of buying sweets for the festival, try preparing healthy alternatives to the ingredients at home. Some options you can try are- Coconut Barfi/Ladoo, Ghia Katli, Energy Balls with Dry Fruits, Carrot Cake, and Whole Grain Cookies.
Try nuts as your snack –
Adding nuts like walnuts to your daily diet can help you feel satisfied and full between meals, as walnuts are the only tree nut that is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 ALA and provides protein and fibre. Nuts are the healthiest snacks, and they come to your rescue during the festive season. You can make it tastier and healthier by including more cashews, almonds, walnuts, dates, pistachios, raisins, and even sesame, watermelon, and sunflower seeds. Nuts and seeds add richness and a delicious crunch to your meals while keeping them healthy.
Eat sweet potatoes –
You should eat sweet potatoes because they provide dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and potassium. Researchers compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables and concluded that sweet potatoes ranked number one for their vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, and complex carbohydrate content.
Try Dark chocolate as your favorite one –
According to the research, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids. Therefore is a reliable source of antioxidant activity, prevent coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer, and enhance immunity. The ingredient in chocolate specifically responsible for these benefits is cocoa powder.
Manufacturers extract it from cocoa beans. Remember that chocolate may contain ingredients, such as added sugar, that may negate these benefits.
Wrap Up: Foods That Keep You Healthy During Festive Season
The holiday season is a time to indulge in delicious food, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your healthy eating habits. There are plenty of healthy holiday foods that you can enjoy guilt-free.
Roast turkey is a classic holiday dish with lean protein packed with nutrients and can be enjoyed without packing on the pounds. It is an excellent choice for a healthy holiday meal. Another healthy option for the holidays is roasted vegetables which are a great source of fiber and vitamins and make a delicious side dish for any holiday meal. If you are looking for a healthy holiday dessert, try making a fruit salad because a fruit salad is a light and refreshing way to end a meal packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Keep Fit This Festive Season with Healthy Foods.