A common complain at the end of the festive season is ‘I ate too much’. We can’t blame you, that’s the time when the best food is laid out, temptation creeps in, the mouth starts to water and food just cannot evade you. Healthy eating is not on your mind, but deep down you wish you knew the secrets to how to eat healthy during celebrations. Gastroenterologist with Moolchand Medcity in New Delhi, Dr. S K Thakur spills the beans on healthy eating, specifically on how to eat healthy during the next couple of weeks. 

Here are some key pointers on how to eat healthy and sensibly:

Eat Healthy by - never go out with an empty stomach: Generally, people tend to starve the entire day and hog at the evening wedding feast. This is like abusing one's own body. Our body has a biological clock that needs to be maintained. It is simply impossible to persist yourself to the tempting delicacies served during the parties; it is better to opt for a healthy substitute an hour before to control your hunger before going to the party. A plateful of salad or a big bowl of vegetable soup consumed an hour before the party will help you to escape from constipation. In fact, this will fill you up and persist you to not attack the food platters.

Eat Healthy by - eating everything but in moderation: Sensible eating doesn’t mean starving yourself. One can definitely eat the food you love, but eat in smaller amounts at frequent time intervals. Limit the intake of starters exchanged frequently which are high in fats and cholesterol content.  

Eat Healthy by - avoiding acidic foods: Avoid copious amounts of acidic foods to keep yourself light when you head off to sleep. Nothing is worse than burping in your sleep and feeling heavy the next morning. Avoid cheese, red meats and those foods that have too much oil floating on them or appear too spicy.

Eat Healthy by - keeping yourself well hydrated: Water is a one stop solution for the entire problem whether it is about combating hunger or the next morning's hangover. Indulge in lemonades, fruit juices, coconut water in between your alcoholic drinks - but make sure that these aren't unhealthy, sugar-heavy drinks.

Eat Healthy by - choosing the right drinks: Be sure to choose drinks with low levels of cogeners (light drinks such as white wines, gin and vodka). These are additives that are found in alcohol that increase your risk of a hangover. Take alcohol by the rule of moderation.

Eat Healthy by - not mixing drinks: Make sure you are not going overboard with your mix of drinks. Detox immediately by drinking a lot of water and not munching snacks with every sip. Do not mix your drinks, which are customarily served to all the guests. Also, do not force drinks on others. Excess of alcohol weakens the immune system, so avoid too much of alcohol. Hangovers due to alcohol can be similarly treated.

These healthy eating pointers can save you from the guilt of eating too much during this festive season. Healthy eating does not involve starving or abstaining from delicious food. Eat right and that will answer your question on how to eat healthy.

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