How To Eat Healthy This Raya!

That nasi impit and rendang ayam look super tempting right? Does it feel like the heaps of kuih raya are just calling out to you? We know, we’ve been there!

The festive season often calls for unintentional overeating. Though we know overeating is bad for our health, it can be hard holding ourselves back from indulging in the feast provided for us. Here are a few tips on how you can eat healthily this Raya!

1. Eat breakfast.

It’s easy to skip out on breakfast to prepare your stomach for the feast later in the day. But it’s not good for you! In fact, skipping breakfast can actually lead to weight gain because you will tend to reach for high sugar and fatty foods mid-morning to make up for your lack of energy. You’d definitely want to avoid this especially when you’re faced with such delicious food! So, always remember to eat your breakfast.

2. Portion your food.

Eating healthy does not mean eating less! Constantly counting your calories and restraining yourself from indulging can actually in turn, be bad for you. It can cause you to end up binging, which is what you’d want to avoid! Instead, learn to portion your food. You should be eating ¼ carbs, ¼ protein and ½ vegetables in each meal you eat. A simpler way would be to think of your plate as a clock face. Between 12-3 should be the amount of carbs you eat, 3-6 the amount of protein you eat, and 6-12 the amount of vegetables you eat!

3. Drink water.

Hydration is truly the key to everything. A great rule of thumb is to drink water while eating to help you pause in between bites to check in with your hunger and fullness signals therefore preventing overeating! Often times, we find ourselves overeating when we’re hungry because we tend to eat fast. So, taking sips of water while eating is a great way to help avoid this! Do remember though that applies to plain water and not sugar drinks.

4. Opt for healthier options.

What’s amazing about Raya is the array of traditional delights that we can feast on! However, most of the dishes are not the best for your health as it contains high-fat ingredients. This does not mean that you are limited though because instead, you can indulge in alternative healthier dishes! Raw foods are always great so grab yourself that delicious ulam and fresh fruits. Try to avoid fried food because of its oil content and opt for steamed or baked food instead! Soup-based noodles such as soto and asam laksa are also amazing choices!

If you’re cooking for your loved ones this Raya, use healthier ingredients such as low-fat milk for the usual coconut milk. Instead of frying, you could always try baking some dishes as it gives you the same amount of crunch without as much oil! As for dishes that still taste better fried, use olive oil because it is rich in monounsaturated fats so they’re so much healthier for you! Lastly, avoid using ingredients loaded with food colouring such as yellow egg noodles because they actually contain cancer causing properties!

5. Avoid going back for second rounds.

Going for one round during your meal is often sufficient for your body’s daily needs. We know how irresistible it is to help yourself to a second or even third round, but you need to give your tummy a break too! Constantly adding more to your plate results in overeating and you’ll only end up feeling tired and uncomfortable throughout the day, so grab all that you need during your first round and you’re good to go!