Tis the season for holidays and celebrations, but while you relax or party, do make sure your stomach is fed right or you might land up falling sick bang in the middle of the party season.

Nutritionists are not immune to these challenges either! What works for me is a game plan that I put together in advance. This does not need loads of planning only an awareness that  Yes! I’m going to celebrate My Health First!

Never go to a party hungry: Resist the urge to fast or “save up” for a big holiday meal. Arriving to a party famished can increase the likelihood for overeating, and when we are super hungry, we tend to crave simple carbohydrates, sugar or whatever we can get our hands on, which usually isn’t the healthiest choice.

Snack ideas to eat before you leave. Ideal options include a mix of protein and fiber (such as boiled chickpea chaat,mixed sprouts with veggies, an egg on a whole wheat slice of toast with tomato and leafy greens, Greek yogurt with berries or hummus with sliced veggies) to help keep you satisfied and more controlled once you arrive at the party.

Carry a snack: If the party calls for you to bring a dish or beverage, opt for a tray of colourful crudité with hummus or a yogurt dip, Steamed or smoked veggies, Grilled fish or chicken breast.

This way, you’ll know you have a healthy snack option available and so will your fellow guests.

Yogurt dip: Grate cucumbers and mix the grated mixture with low fat  yogurt. Season with rock salt, white pepper and oregano.

Be picky: Resist the urge to try every indulgence, which can leave you feeling stuffed and bloated. Instead of piling your plate with a little bit of this and that, choose a dish or dessert that you love and look forward to, and enjoy it in an appropriate portion (alongside some colourful veggies, lean protein and whole grains, of course!). Avoid the calorie rich appetizers, stick with mushroom, paneer or tofu or chicken skewers instead.

Use small plates: It’s super difficult to fill up only half a plate at a buffet, studies prove that a majority of us prefer a plate that is 70% full. The easy hack is smaller plates; smaller portions; problem solved.

Stay hydrated: Alternate alcoholic beverages with regular or sparkling water – spacing out your cocktails is key not only to control calories (which can be super high in some alcoholic beverages), but also to keep you hydrated and help prevent nasty hangover symptoms the morning after. Try adding a lemon or lime wedge and drinking your water in a champagne glass to keep things festive.

Schedule time for exercise: We are often busier during the holidays, and it’s easy to let a regular exercise routine fall by. Try scheduling a simple 10-15minute routine into your calendar as you would a lunch date and stick to it.

Try workouts that can be done at home to save time. Jumping Jacks,Spot Jogging, Spin biking, Lunges(each leg), Suryanamaskar to name a few.

Focus on socializing, not food: Let’s not forget what the festivities are all about – spending time with loved ones! Instead of parking yourself by the buffet table, seek out someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and have a meaningful conversation. This is great both for catching up with loved ones and avoiding the mindless eating and snacking (and drinking!) that are easy to succumb to in the party setting.

Here’s to a happy and healthy festive season!

Do you know any tips to add? Let us know in the comments.

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Stay tuned!! Post Festive Cleansing Tips coming up next week.

Uma Narula is an award winning practising Nutritionist since 10 years.If you have any queries you can email  on uma@nutriguide.co.in or call  on +91 99676 35556/+32 468 29 79 49.