SHARES
With the several festive celebrations during the year, as we relish and savour the traditional sumptuous festive dishes & snacks, our expanding waistlines can certainly start catching a break. You can still enjoy all your festive feasting during festive celebrations with these diet tips to feasting and maintaining your weight.
12 Diet tips to feasting and maintaining your weight
1. Bake/grill instead of fry
Air fryers are taking over the world and with good reason. The convenience of air fryers also means we’re consuming more (fried) food. Try swapping the air fryer for an oven from time to time. Do some squats while waiting for your meal, and your tummy (and legs!) will be aching for some hearty and healthy food.
2. Eat more fish
Fish contains many vitamins and minerals. Moreover oily fish like salmon and tuna are great sources of omega-3, which helps to prevent heart disease.
3. Saucing things up
Sauces and gravy are great ways to enhance your dish. However, try using homemade tomato sauce or citrus juices instead of creamy sauces. Similarly, cook with broth instead of oil.
4. Add more herbs
Fresh herbs are another great way to get more flavour out of your food rather than piling on more salt, sugar, or even MSG. All we need in this world is more thyme.
5. Lean, mean, fighting machine
Choosing lean meats instead of fatty meats is the way to go. For instance, opt for poultry like skinless chicken or turkey, or red meat options like pork chops and tenderloin cuts.
6. Mix in tofu
If you’re cutting down on meat, throw in some tofu or tempe as a substitution. Not only will your tofu and tempe absorb all the meaty goodness, it’ll taste as good for half the amount of calories and saturated fat!
7. Garlic breath
Garlic is a household staple, so it’s not difficult to add garlic in everything. Eating garlic has various health benefits, including reducing blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease, and is highly nutritious while containing very few calories.
8. Save those nuts
Nuts may be a favourite party snack, but it is also a great snack if you want to watch your weight. They are high in unsaturated fats, which combat conditions like heart disease. Nuts like almond and walnuts can reduce appetite, help you feel full even longer, and even burn calories!
9. Berry good
Another alternative to healthy snacking is by eating berries. Berries are high in antioxidants that prevent weight gain, and for that we say: “Berry good!”
10. Drink more water!
Our love letters, kueh bangkits, and pineapple tarts are so high in sugar, cutting down on our sugar intake from now on is the most obvious thing to do to keep our weight down. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before meal. It helps to flush out the toxins accumulated while feasting. Limit your intake of fizzy drinks, sugary syrups and desserts!
11. Use Smaller Plates
Smaller plates carries less food and we will eat less. It helps to watch our calorie intake and keep track on the amount of food that we ate.
12. Munch Slowly
By eating slowly, we let our brain process we’ve had enough food. It’s good to eat with chopsticks and always eat till 70% full only.
With these diet tips to feasting and maintaining your weight, you can enjoy the season’s celebrations, bonding with family and friends over good food and warm fellowship, and not worry too much about expanding the waistline!
However should you experience any discomfort, pain or feeling of congestion in the chest or stomach, please do not ignore these symptoms. Have them checked out by making an appointment with your doctor via GetDoc today! 
References
by waiyee
Film junkie. Matcha drinker. Dog lady. Will write for food. View all articles by waiyee.
