How to Stay Healthy During Festive Seasons

We are well aware that oily, fatty foods are unhealthy. However, a lot of food tends to be fried during the festive season. Sugar and salt are also often added to enhance the flavours.

Healthy cooking methods such as baking, roasting, grilling, and steaming are good alternatives to frying.

We may forget how much we are eating when we are feeling festive and end up binge eating during the festive seasons.

To avoid overeating, be aware of your food portion. For example, use a plate for snacks - put all the snacks you want on a plate and limit yourself to the plate rather than continuously putting your hand in the snack container. This will help prevent you from eating up the whole container of cookies without realising it.

Festive season visitations mean food and more food. If your relatives are coming over, you have probably got a complete meal on the table for them; and if you are going to a friend's place, you will likely be giving them a bag of goodies.

Thus, one tip to avoid overeating is to have a light meal or healthy snack before you head out.

Commercial festive treats often contain high quantities of refined sugar, flour, and fat, which make them extremely unhealthy. One way to combat this is to make your own cakes, cookies, and treats at home as you can control the amount of sugar in the recipe. Additionally, you will also be able to use better-quality ingredients.

Drinking lots of water keeps you hydrated. It will also help remove toxins from your body. Besides this, sometimes festive foods contain lots of salt, and thus, adequate water intake is a must.

We often stay up late during festivals; this usually means that the eating continues past our usual dinner time. Supper and midnight snacks are a norm during these celebrations. However, our metabolism tends to slow down at night, causing unhealthy weight gain.

Alcohol and sweet fizzy drinks are high in calories. Our bodies turn these excess calories into fat if they are not burnt off. Thus, it is best to limit or, even better, avoid alcohol and soda.

Choose healthy alternatives such as fresh juices without added sugar, unsweetened coconut water, or green tea.

Eating slowly gives your body a chance to signal to your brain that you are full. This ensures not going overboard with the feast in front of you.

Skipping meals may seem like the perfect way to reduce food intake, especially if you have been snacking on all the festive goodies. However, this may result in overeating at the next meal or cravings for sugary and fatty foods. Additionally, some people may feel grumpy when they are hungry.

Thus, rather than skip meals, start the day with a healthy breakfast, eat moderately during mealtimes, and stick to healthy snacks.

Probiotics deliver good bacteria that aid in supporting a healthy gut. They help with digestion and improve the absorption of nutrients while keeping harmful microorganisms at bay. For example, a 2020 study shows that the consumption of multispecies probiotics is regarded as safe and natural for alleviation of functional constipation in adults.

Thus, remember to support your digestive system with probiotics during the festive seasons.

Since most people are on leave during the festive seasons, why not go for a morning or evening walk with your family? Also, a walk around the neighbourhood can be fun - you may run into neighbours you have not met in a long time. For those who are more adventurous, consider going for a short hike if there is a trail near your home.

Remember the fun times with siblings and cousins playing a board game or running around playing on the porch? Why not create memories with a simple sporting match that family members and friends can join? A quick football match at the field nearby or a game of badminton using the house gate as a ‘net’ can help keep you active.