This reunion season is filled with lots of delicious food, drinks, and treats. But if you're not careful, all that Chinese New Year food indulging can lead to some serious weight gain. Here are five tips for you to enjoy all the yummy Chinese New Year food, without piling on the pounds.
1. Don’t eat mindlessly
A can of beer here and a second helping of pineapple tarts there. Before you know it, you would have already consumed extra, empty calories while waiting for your friends to arrive at the Chinese New Year gathering.
Stop your pesky cravings in their tracks and eat everything in moderation.
When at gatherings, be aware of the food you’re putting into your mouth. Don’t eat simply because you’re bored or waiting for someone. This way, you leave the gathering feeling happy and without any regrets about unnecessary calories that could have been avoided.
2. Avoid going for second helpings
With a huge spread available, it's definitely tempting to go another round at the table.
The key is to pace yourself. When you eat fast, you are more likely to overeat as you don’t feel full. Instead, eat slowly and savour the flavours of your food.
But what if the food is simply irresistible? Before going for your next second helping, simply ask yourself if that extra slice of kueh lapis is worth the additional one hour on the treadmill to burn off the Chinese New Year food calories.
3. Watch out for hidden sodium and sugars
Festive foods are oh-so-delicious, but watch out for hidden sodium in them.
There is a lot of sodium in festive foods, such as barbequed pork (bak kwa) and dried shrimp rolls. It is recommended to keep your salt intake to less than 5g per day as obesity and other chronic diseases are linked to the consumption of foods high in sodium.
It may also be tempting to indulge in sweet drinks but try to choose plain water or unsweetened beverages to avoid consuming the extra sugar.
If you find it hard to avoid these sweet treats, consider low-sugar and sugar-free options. These types of treats are lower in calories and healthier. For example, there are even low-calorie plant-based milk teas available, such as Naked Blend’s plant-based Original Milk Tea and Matcha Milk Tea.
4. Consume detox drinks
If avoiding festive foods is hard for you, consuming healthy detox drinks is another good way to get your body back into balance. Made with natural ingredients, these detox drinks can cleanse your body by getting rid of toxins, leaving you feeling invigorated and revitalised.
Naked Blend’s beauty and wellness consumables are created to effortlessly blend into and support one’s wellness journey. We have a wide range of detox beverages and supplements for effective health & weight management in Singapore, including detox drinks such as the Peach Detox Glow and berry detox jellies such as the Berry Enzyme Cleanse Jelly.
5. Fit in an extra workout
No matter your age or fitness level, exercise is proven to offer numerous physical and mental health benefits, including increased energy levels, improved cognitive function, and most importantly, the ability to burn your Chinese New Year calories. Fit in an extra workout either in the day or night to break a sweat and tone your body after all the Chinese New Year feasting.
Enjoy the festive season without piling on the pounds
The celebratory month is almost upon us. But with all the delicious food and drinks, it's easy to put on a few extra kilos this Chinese New Year season. Follow the above five tips to help yourself keep the extra kilos off, which can make all the difference to your weight!