5 Tips to Stay Healthy During Diwali
Between Diwali, Christmas, family dinners and New Year’s, food is a major theme of the holidays. And what better time to celebrate than the holidays? With a plethora of events to attend, most shine the spotlight on food. Add restricted time on your hands to exercise, unlimited shopping sprees, and seasonal stress, you get the makings of the perfect holiday weight gain recipe. This festive season, even as you enjoy that extra piece of sweet or simply let yourselves lose in the holiday frolic, remember to keep a tab on your wellbeing. Here’s a list of five tips which let you have your cake and eat it too - while you remain healthy through the season.
1) Balance is the key: Willpower is not your friend during festivities. When you are faced with temptation, nine times out of ten times sheer willpower will fail you. Being on an empty stomach isn’t an option either, so it’s important to learn the trick of eating right. Showing up to an event hungry is an ingredient for an instant 1000+ calorie binge. It’s best to eat something light beforehand which will help you control your appetite better. Also, if you indulge in one meal, try to balance out the other meals with healthier foods (for recipe options check out our Pinterest). Keep this in mind and your favourite foods don’t have to be off-limits
2) Choose wisely: It’s always better to eat healthier and home-cooked versions of your favourite snack/sweet. Substitute fried foods with baked alternatives. Similarly, consume healthier and wholesome options such as fruit-based desserts, sugar-free confectionaries, and dry-fruit bars in place of unhealthy nibbles. At a party, you can succeed by starting with low-calorie foods before reaching out for fried options.
3) Don’t give up on exercise: Exercise during the day, even if it is for a short while. If you’re on a holiday, go for a morning stroll or run up a hill. Alternatively, you could also train your muscles with a swim session or a round of outdoor games with family and friends. Twenty to thirty minutes every day will help you remain in shape while enjoying the occasional snack. Plus, consistent exercise before the holiday season will give your body a bit of push to remain in shape.
4) Limit the consumption of alcohol/aerated drinks: The fun and fervour of festivities go hand in hand with drinking and it’s possible to lose count of drinks when you’re having fun. Once the celebration moves to the dance floor, you can go from two drinks to five in no time. To avoid unnecessary calories, instead of completely refraining yourself, you can have a drink or two and no more. A pro tip would be to sip on cocktails with soda and other non-aerated options, which are typically loaded with sugar.
5) Detox: After wrapping up the festivities, indulge in a good detox cycle. Consume raw fruits and juices, and if need be, take your cardio or exercise routine a notch higher. Check out some of our helpful recipes to give you a starting point!
Who would have thought; staying healthy during festive occasions isn’t impossible after all! Just requires a dash of discipline and you can have a whole lot of fun!