Diwali: How to Keep the Weight Off and Enjoy Yourself

During Diwali, an abundance of sweets, rich treats and fatty foods will be on offer. If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight during this time and beyond, it can be tricky knowing how to avoid the sweeter treats and still enjoy the festival. You don’t want to appear as though you’re not taking part, but you also don’t want to gain those extra pounds that will be difficult to lose afterwards. The good news is that it is possible to combine the two and still have a great time with your loved ones – here are a few tips to help you avoid piling on the pounds during Diwali.

Eat in moderation

It may seem like an obvious way to begin, but it’s easier said than done when there are treats and sinful foods everywhere you look. During the festivities you are bound to eat more fried foods, sweeter snacks and other fatty goods which could cost you when you step on the scales. The best way to enjoy yourself and not do too much damage on the weight plan is to keep your consumption of such foods to a minimum. Eat one or two rather than an entire plateful so that you don’t gain too many calories each day.

Don’t avoid exercise

If you are going to indulge, you need to balance it out with plenty of exercise to burn off those extra few treats you enjoyed. It may seem like that last thing you’ll want to do when you’re celebrating, but making the effort to hit the gym will help you in the long run. You can enjoy that indulgent meal guilt-free if you know that you’ll be burning it off the next day. It will also keep you motivated to run an extra mile or work out for an extra half an hour.

Use low fat ingredients where possible

Where you can, try to make your food with low fat ingredients such as skimmed milk and non-fat dairy products, and use natural sugars such as honey, jaggery and dates rather than refined sugar. Diet sweets and ice creams are readily available in the supermarkets now, but this simply means that they’ve been made with substitutes instead of the real deal. So don’t be tempted to go overboard simply because it has the word ‘diet’ attached to it.

Opt for dried fruits over deep fried

If you have the option of deep fried goods and dried fruit, opt for the latter. It may not be as tasty, but it will offer you a health boost and won’t cost you when it comes to weigh-in time. Most snacks and sweets are made with refined sugars and flour, which means they hold very little nutritional value, whereas dried fruit is packed with nutrients and natural fibre.

Drink plenty of water before snacking

If you want to avoid overeating, you should drink some water before you begin eating. We often mistake thirst for being hungry, and as such we overeat. If you drink beforehand, you will lower your cravings and eat less overall. By the same token, slow down the pace that you eat. It will stop you eating more than you need, as you’ll be giving your brain time to realise when it’s eaten enough.

Avoid second helpings

On the theme of overeating, don’t be tempted to go for a second helping as this will simply double the amount of fat and calories you consume unnecessarily. Be firm with yourself and stop when you’ve eaten enough, rather than eating everything on your plate out of habit.

Categories: avoid, deep fried, diet, Diwali, dried fruit, extra, foods, time, treats, weight gain

Do You Have to Avoid Takeaways in Order to Be Healthy?

Takeaways are convenient and cheap, but as we all know they are also loaded with salt, fat and sugar. Some takeaways can take their toll on your health if you consume them too often, though. Many health conditions, from diabetes to heart disease, have been linked to the consumption of an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Some takeaway menus now list their calorie and fat contents as a way of helping consumers make healthier choices – here are some tips on how to still enjoy your weekend treats but not put a negative impact on your health.

 

Fish and chips

Fish and chips are a quick and easy meal, as well as being cheap, but there are plenty of ways to make your Friday night chippie a healthier one. For example, add in a portion of mushy peas or baked beans, and watch for higher fat options such as pies and sausages. The thicker the chips, the better they are for your health, as they absorb less fat. If you share a portion of chips, you’ll also consume less calories. Many fish and chip shops add a lot of salt, so if you want to add salt do it yourself at home – it will be less unhealthy. Try not to eat all of the batter around your fish, as this soaks up a lot of the oil and fat.

Italian

If you’re opting for a pizza, choose a low fat topping such as prawns, fish, ham or vegetables. You can even ask for extra vegetables to boost your intake of nutrients – don’t ask for extra cheese though, as this will cause the pizza to be too high in fat and calories. Pasta is easier to make healthy, as you can choose a tomato based sauce or one which has plenty of vegetables and seafood in the sauce. Try not to opt for a cheese or cream-based sauce, as these will be very high in fat. Any dishes which have a lot of butter or bread will be bad for you, to try to choose starters which are salads or rich in fresh vegetables.

Chinese

Watch out for anything on the menu that is battered or marked as crispy, as this will mean that it’s deep fried. Starters such as prawn crackers and spring rolls will usually be deep fried as well, so avoid these where possible. Your best option is steamed dishes, which won’t be as high in fat, but stir fries are usually fine as they are low in fat and high in nutrients from the vegetables.

Thai

Thai food is generally healthier than Chinese food, but try to opt for steamed dishes and those containing fish or vegetables. Curries in Thai cuisine usually contain a lot of coconut milk, which can be high in fat, so choose a stir dry instead. If you do have a curry, don’t eat all of the sauce and load up on the veggies instead.

Indian

Anything that is cream-based or deep fried should be off your radar. Indian food is usually high in vegetables, as it is predominantly a vegetarian diet, so choose something that is tomato-based and have it with plain rice or a chapatti. Lentils are great for your health, so a dal or lentil based curry will be a healthier choice. If you avoid the accoutrements, such as samosas or deep fried bhajis, then you should be able to enjoy the meal and still remain relatively healthy.

Categories: based, based sauce, cream based, deep fried, diet, Fat, Fish, high, steamed dishes, takeaways, tomato based, vegetables