December in the Philippines is a month of bounty. Bountiful salaries, parties, gifts, and traffic. Most important of all, it’s that time of the year for family and friends, some of whom you haven’t seen for a few years.
Just as Filipinos love to gather, they also love to eat. Eating is akin to religion, and someone will insist that you try every dish. In the interest of keeping you relatively healthy this Christmas season, here are some tips to keep the weight gain at bay.
- Eat a little before the party.
This sounds counter intuitive. After all, sometimes the only reason to show up—though you wouldn’t admit it—is for the food. But, having a light snack beforehand works out in great ways.
First, it keeps your blood sugar normal, giving you energy to last through all the mano-pos and beso-besos. Second, you won’t feel the urge to eat your weight in spaghetti and hot dogs. And third, you’ll avoid apologizing for hangry behavior.
- Load your plate with veggies.
Yes, we’re also talking to you, sworn carnivores. Make vegetables (and fruits) your friends when you have a whole day or week of parties ahead. Why, you ask?
You’ll last longer. If you only eat adobo or liempo at parties, you’ll get sick of them in no time and feel heavy, bloated, or both. Break the meat monotony with some healthy side dishes, like fresh lumpia or a slice of melon. You won’t be in a meat stupor when your mother asks if her caldereta is better than your aunt’s. (The correct, self-preserving answer is that they’re both delicious in different ways.)
- Rank dishes before you eat.
Before you even get a plate, have a look at what’s been prepared. Make a mental list of the food you absolutely have to try. (The higher the number, the smaller the portion you have to get per dish.)
Now, grab a plate and make a beeline for your favorite dishes. By the time the host offers you something you’re not excited to eat, you can truthfully say that you’re full and add that the lechon was mouthwatering. Not only have you complimented them, you’ve also secured yourself an invitation for next Christmas.
- Resist the urge to scarf or glug.
Unless you’re chomping down on sauteed bok choy and chugging water, better slow down. The eating competition is only happening in your head. If you just followed the last tip of choosing your favorites first, you can now devote time for mindful eating. Slow down and meditate on the good food experience.
When you’re done, head for a friend or relative instead of a second plate. Talk to them. Reminisce. You won’t just buy yourself time for the next round of eating; you’ll also bond with them, which is more important in the long run.
- Watch the drink.
Even the most simple parties serve beverages other than water: iced tea, calamansi juice, beer, maybe even wine. In the quest to eat less, you may be tempted to load up on drinks instead of food. Don’t do it.
While you might feel less guilty drinking iced tea than eating lechon, the calories will slowly creep up on you. Water, unsweetened tea, and black coffee are the only beverages with 0-5 calories. The rest are just delicious (and at times alcoholic) varieties of sugar. Manage liquid calories by drinking a glass of water for every glass of beer, juice, or wine.
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