Festive season and importance of a healthy diet

The festive season leads to the beginning of joy and celebration of each individual’s beliefs. This celebration is accompanied by special dishes and sweets that one would share with their loved and closed ones. While you would be having that delicious meal, they can have an adverse effect on your body if not balanced with a proper diet.

Festive season celebration can also be a cause for concern for those with conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, co-morbidities and digestive problems. Thus, it becomes important to balance one’s diet between healthy food as well as special dishes that can be relished during this season.

Simple rules to follow

A healthy diet doesn’t mean drastically changing your habits. It simply means avoiding excessive consumption or simply avoiding certain food items. Here are some tips that we would recommend one can easily follow:

1. Practice Portion Control: This is an easy and simple method that one can practice. Rather than providing big servings, always serve yourself small portions of your favourite dishes and sweets. This ensures you get the chance to savour every dish that you cherish while avoiding over eating.
2. Balance Your Plate: A delicious meal for your taste buds should always be balanced with the right amount of nutrition and healthy dishes. There are varieties of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that can be added alongside your favourite meal. This will ensure that the body gets healthy nutrients and you also get to enjoy your sweets.
3. Drink plenty of water: During this season, it is important to stay hydrated. Water will help improve your digestion, suppresses appetite, and help maintain body heat. Avoid sugary drinks or alcohol as they could lead to excess calorie intake.
4. Healthy Alternatives: Whenever possible, select healthier substitutes for the customary festive meals. For example, one may make use of natural sweeteners such as honey or jaggery in place of refined sugar, or go for baked and grilled choices instead of fried dishes.
5. Plan Ahead: You should plan your meals if you know that you will be attending several festival gatherings. Eat lighter and more nutrient-rich meals before leaving so that you can avoid overeating during the event. For patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol it is even more important to plan your diet. This will help in avoiding any post-festive season health issues such as high blood sugar levels, digestive issues and gut problems.
6. Incorporate Physical Activity: Just like eating well is important, staying active during the festive season is equally important. Engage in physical activities such as walking, dancing, or playing games with your family and friends. By doing so, you will be able to balance those extra calories especially if you have been inactive during the festive period.

Our festivals are meant to create everlasting memories with those who are close to us and food plays an important role in these moments. However, during this joyful occasion, it is vital to avoid any illnesses or health issues to continue enjoying it. If one follows the above advice, they can easily maintain a healthy diet while at the same time enjoying the special food that festive celebrations bring along with their arrival.