Stay fit this Eid without skipping your favourite foods

For many, the holiday season is a time to rest and reconnect. Food often takes centre stage, whether during the fulfilling celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr or the hearty, meat-filled feasts of Eid-ul-Adha. During these festive times, the dining table becomes a symbol of hospitality and generosity.

While the celebrations last only a few days, they can sometimes leave longer-lasting effects, the most common being weight gain. Changes in routine and diet during the holidays are the norm, and this causes indulgent meals to become more common during this time.

However, does this sense of celebration and joy always have to come with this undesired gain? No, not at all, only a few mindful choices, and you are good to go.

Image

Eating in a specific order

As with everything else in life, a little bit of planning can make a massive difference.

When it is known that a big dinner party or a big outing is on its way, it helps to have a plate of salad or vegetables before eating anything else. These options are high in dietary fibre, which works to keep the stomach full.

Next in line is protein. After being done with vegetables, try to go with any option that has a high protein content, prime examples are meats and fish.

And at the end come carbs, these include heavy items such as rice, naan, parathas, foods that we often consume at the start of our meal.

Eating in this order would mean that by the time you are about to consume the carbs, your stomach is already full!

Image

Remember that beverages also count

A plate full of polao along with a few glasses of soda drinks is an evident favourite in some households, but what people forget is that these drinks are also heavily loaded with calories.

Most beverages are empty calories; you tend to sip on them, and before you know it, you have consumed several hundred calories.

During this holiday time, when food intake is already more than usual, try to cut back on things such as the “mandatory” tea time or the much-needed soda after every meal and opt for water instead. This will help you save several hundred calories every meal, which will make a significant difference when added up throughout the day.

Don’t be afraid to say no

There’s always a person in the family or someone among your friends who likes to cook, and more often than not, you are on the receiving end of it, but one thing to remember here is, do not feel pressured to say yes to every offering of food.

Try to consult with yourself before reaching out to the dish in front of you. Ask whether you genuinely want what is on your plate.

If a relative insists you try their famous dessert, it is perfectly fine to explain that you are already full or trying to be mindful of your eating habits and politely decline.

Do not sit around after dinner

After a heavy meal, invite a few family members to join you for a short walk. It can be as simple as spending 15 minutes walking around your neighbourhood.

If you are heading to a nearby shopping mall, consider walking there instead of taking transport. These small activities may seem insignificant, but they add up over the course of a day or week, helping digestion and keeping your weight in check.

The holidays are some of the most special days of the year, and it is important to relax your mind and enjoy time with our loved ones, but this enjoyment should not come at the cost of our health.

A few mindful choices here and there, and achieving that perfect balance of health and joy becomes possible.