Losing weight, exercising regularly, following a healthy diet and stopping with the liquid calories are just some of the many resolutions we make every year, and we have a feeling 2018 will be no different. Interesting enough, most of the new-year resolutions always relate to health and diet. That’s why we have Dr. Anita Das Gupta, Clinical Dietitian at Burjeel Hospital, share with us some of the health tips you can follow come 2018 after the party is over. Not only will these health tips help you maintain a balanced and a healthy lifestyle they will also assist you in achieving a happy and a healthy 2018.

Health Tips for a Happier 2018

Balance it Out

The easiest way to maintain an ideal weight is to balance the calories we consume with our workout. Balancing calories means following a healthy diet that contains all the food groups, making sure it is colored and varied to avoid losing interest and giving your body all the important nutritional elements, such as vitamins and minerals.

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Organize your Meals

Organizing your daily meals is one of the health tips that are very important for maintaining an ideal weight. It is recommended that you eat controlled quantities of all the 3 main meals. Skipping one meal will make you feel more starved and may cause you to eat a larger portion in the next meal. Light snacks (2-3 snacks) can be taken between the main meals every day.

Eat Light and Eat Right

Start your day with a minimum of a glass of water, warm water with lemon and honey will be good. Breakfast should include a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and a spoonful of flaxseeds; scrambled eggs with a piece of wholegrain toast, or muesli with yogurt and berries. Lunch should include steamed, grilled, baked, roasted or sautéed dishes. Dinner should begin with a light soup (no cream) or lentil soup and should always be a light dinner that has carbohydrates, protein, and good fats.

Snack it Out

As mentioned before, eating a snack between your main meals can prevent you from overeating in the next meal. Therefore, you should make sure you eat some snacks during the day. The healthy snacks should be small meals, containing the nutritional elements that may be lacking in the rest of the meals. Examples of snacks are fresh or dried fruits, vegetable slices, such as carrots or cucumbers, raw nuts (unsalted – a handful) or milk (low-fat), and some dairy products or a dark chocolate (30 grams) which is the amount allowed per person per day. Always remember that even if your options are healthy, do not take excess quantities of them.

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Eat Slowly

Take time to savor every mouthful of your food – opt for smaller bites and chewing slowly. The brain takes around 15-20 minutes to realize that your stomach is full, meaning by dessert time you are unlikely to overeat.

Eat the ‘Good for you’ Options First

Starting your meal with a bowl of clear broth or green salad will mean that you are fuller by the time you progress to the meats and mashed potatoes and finally dessert.

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Shop Smart

It is easy to get distracted by the unhealthy options available in abundance when you shop for groceries, especially if you shop on an empty stomach. If you want to take these health tips seriously, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables. Low-fat dairy or whole grains are a healthier alternative so, fill your shopping cart with these. Also, use a natural sweetener that tastes just as good as refined, processed sugar in desserts.

Plan Wisely

When organizing a get-together or going for a party, do not plan your menu around food choices that are heavy in cream-based sauces or empty calories like in a casserole. Instead of the usual mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes grilled with a drizzle of olive oil is a yummier, healthier option. Rather than a deep-fried chicken breast slathered in mushroom cream, grilled chicken with a side dish of fresh vegetable salad is a better choice.

Hang Out with Friends at the Park

Do not kill time in front of the TV after a large meal, put on your running shoes and head to the park with a friend. Play a game of badminton or just take a walk around inhaling some fresh air while catching up.

Be Mindful of Beverages

Alcoholic drinks lessen inhibitions and prompt overeating and the non-alcoholic beverages are usually laced with added refined sugars. Instead, drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day. You can flavor the water with cut up fruits, mint, and lemon or preferred veggies.

So, this New Year, make some brave and realistic resolutions and shed those pounds you gained during the holidays by following these simple health tips.