Tips for a Healthier and Happier Eid

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Eid-Al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Homes across the country and world are filled with family and friends and feasts of foods. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying all the foods, it is important to gradually bring your body back to normal pre-Ramadan eating habits. When you eat too much food right from the start, you can feel bloated, have indigestion and feel guilty about stuffing yourself all with the side effect of weight gain. Here are some tips for a healthier and happier Eid.

Exercise

Amidst all the festivities, make sure you continue, or start, exercising. Go for a walk in the morning at the park or on your treadmill. Exercising releases endorphins, which are feel good hormones and essentially effects your positive mood in a good way. After you exercise in the morning, you will be less likely to indulge in so much food.

Hydrate

Drink plenty of water throughout the day and especially before eating. Drinking water before you eat will decrease your intake of food consumed because you will feel slightly fuller. A study concluded that those who drank 500 mL of water right before eating a meal resulted in them eating 75 to 90 fewer calories for that meal.

Eat to Live, Don’t Live to Eat

A famous scientist, Benjamin Franklin, once said that. What this means is, eat only till you are 80 percent full, don’t gorge yourself till you are sick to your stomach. So when you are sitting at the table with so many tasty delights, think about this and don’t overeat.

Sit Nutritiously

Sit next to healthier options such as grilled food items, fruits and vegetables and you are more likely to consume those food items than asking for the fried samosas at the other end of the table.

Chew Well

Food digestion begins in your mouth as you chew, not in the stomach as most people think. The saliva in your mouth contains amylase, which are enzymes that begin digesting and breaking down your food before you even swallow it. Proper chewing not only sends signals to your body to get it ready for the rest of the digestion process, but it is also important to chew slowly because you are less likely to overeat.

Socialize

Socialize and chat more with your family and friends so that you are distracted and eat slower and essentially you will eat less. You will be less likely to jump to second helpings and will want to say no that the relative who keeps saying “eat more.”

Fit in Your Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain good amounts of water and fiber which can make you feel hydrated and give you a sense of fullness. When you are finished with your meal and you are making your way to the desserts, opt for fruits before the halwa. The natural sweetness of fruits will satisfy your sugar cravings and make you less likely to indulge in too much dessert.

House Hop

Take advantage of all the invites to Eid parties. Knowing that you will have to go to another party and will be considered to eat there, you are likely to eat smaller portions at one place and it will give you time to digest before moving on. You will have more conversations with different people will eat less but still be able to satisfy the host by eating their food.

Use Spices

Instead of adding salt to your dishes if you are hosting a party or bringing food to a party, use spices and herbs. Spices add flavor to your dishes with less calories as well as have good health benefits. Cinnamon, garlic, mint and cayenne pepper are all good spices.

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