December is the month of celebration & parties but also it tends to be a time where we consume high fat & high-calorie food. Here is a smart guide to making sure we take off the December party binge.

DURING THE PARTY SEASON:

• Start with a nourishing breakfast, have a light lunch then a small snack before the party.

• Always eat during the day of the party. People who skip meals to save up calories tend to overeat everything once they get there.

• Watch your portion sizes. Use a smaller plate; your mind will consider it as a full plate regardless of its size.

• Pile your plate high with traditional seasonal vegetables such as red cabbage, carrots, beetroot & cauliflower. The more colours you have on your plate, the higher the variety of nutrients & antioxidants. 
  E.g Make a sweet potato mash with a hint of ground cumin. It will make a nice change to the standard potato mash, plus it's a healthy, lower-GI [Glycemic Index] alternative.

• Every party now has a salad counter. Mediterranean dips have also made their way. It is the best option to snack on hummus/guacamole with carrot sticks and tiny crackers. It will help to fill the gap before the main course when you get tempted by chips & junk food.

• Alternate your drink. Alternate one alcoholic drink with one healthy non-alcoholic drink such as water, sugar-free lemonade, sparkling water & plain soda.

• Be careful with top-ups. Topping up your favourite dish with EXTRA cheese, mayo & butter will add on extra calories.

• Stay away from the dessert counter. Take a few bites of your favourite dessert from your friend's plate to fulfil your cravings. Avoid anything that's made with cream, syrups, caramels, or artificial flavours.

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BEFORE GOING TO THE PARTY

Avoid going hungry to party. Eat something light before to reduce your chances of snacking on high-calorie party food.

We all want to look best in our outfits. Hence, it is suggested to consume a lot of water to make sure we are well hydrated & increase our intake of fruits & vegetables to avoid water retention & bloating.

Examples: a bowl of fruits, a healthy sandwich, a bowl of salad, a glass of milk etc.

MAKE SURE TO LOAD YOUR PLATE WITH:

• Vegetable sticks, rice crackers.

• Tzatziki, avocado dip.

• Sushi.

• Pasta in red sauce.

• Fruit salad with yoghurt.

• Clear vegetable soups/chicken broth.

• Grilled chicken/fish/paneer.

• Live counters serving pasta, stir-fry, & sandwiches.

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FOODS TO LIMIT:

• Creamy dips.

• Shepherd pie.

• A fried starter like lollipops, samosas, tikkis, & chaats.

• Cakes like rum cakes, plum cakes & slices with cream.

• Glazed vegetables.

• Chicken/mutton biryani.

• Roasted turkey.

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GIVE YOUR ALCOHOL AN ANTIOXIDANT BOOST

Using vodka & whiskey with ingredients like antioxidants such as those present in green tea, mint tea, oolong tea low sodium tomato juice which is full of cancer-fighting lycopene, & fresh lemon juice which aids in digestion as a smart mixture.

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HEAL THE HANGOVER:

• Brew a warm mug of ginger tea. Ginger has been shown to help combat nausea.

• Alcohol can lead to dehydration, so make sure to drink water continuously.

• Drink fresh juice to give yourself a vitamin boost. Vitamin C will provide you with the energy you'll need.

• Use black coffee or green tea as much as you can.

• Coconut water is rich in potassium which acts as a diuretic & helps you stay hydrated.

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AFTER THE BINGE EPISODE, AT HOME:

Now is the time when the guilt comes in & you want to undo the heavy meal & the wrong foods that you have had.

• For one week be ready to eat free. These means do not eat anything that can be consumed out of the packets. E.g. Instant foods, biscuits, instant soups, noodles, chips, ice creams, carbonated beverages etc.

• Limit your intake of salt to 1 tsp & oil to 3 tsp a day.

• Include green tea, lime, mint, & chamomile tea in your day-to-day routine.

• Take a break from alcohol which is nothing but empty calories that create havoc with your blood sugar levels.

• Eat fresh home-cooked meals.