Wedding season is a nightmarish season for all dieters and health conscious people. You worked very hard to maintain your weight and lose those inches, but now all the rich food from one wedding to another threatens to make you gain back the flab. You want to be thin and at the same time don't want to miss on all the delicacies. The variety offered by a wedding buffet can demotivate many dieters, but this can be avoided if you follow some simple tips mentioned below:
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Prepare yourself in advance: When you know that you have to attend a wedding, you can increase your workout time on that day and burn more than the usual calories (this can also be done on the next day, if you can't do it on the same day). If you are not working out then take a 30 minute brisk walk on that day. Eat light food that day such as more of fruits and salad, and protein foods (like chicken, fish, buttermilk, sprouts and egg) as they provide satiety for longer. Also, carry cardamom (elaichi), fennel (saunf) or mouth-freshener with you (why? see point number 9). And, make sure you park your vehicle away from the function area, so that you have to walk for at least 5 minute to reach the venue.
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Eat a plate of salad before leaving from home: If you eat a plate of salad or a small snack just before leaving your house you will not feel very hungry, and as a result your appetite at the wedding can be kept low.
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Start from the salad/fruit bar: Fiber gives a feeling of fullness and suppresses the appetite. Therefore, always start by enjoying the variety in salad and fruits. And, before starting with other snacks, first scan the available options.
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Choose grilled/baked/tandoor cooked starters or snacks: The wedding menu is full of fried items and vegetables which are soaked in oil, and desserts loaded with cream and ghee. It is best to choose grilled/tandoor snacks as they are devoid of that amount of fat. Eat slowly and enjoy the food flavors, texture and taste.
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Pick the smallest plate: Take the smallest plate and fill it with lots of healthy food like salad, chicken or fish. Focus on friends and relatives, and not on food; remember it is harder to burn the calories than to avoid consuming them in the first place.
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Go easy on alcohol: Alcohol is just like sugar for the system. A safe limit is 2 servings with one serving defined as 300 ml of regular beer or 150 ml of wine or 45 ml "shot" of distilled liquor. Also, it is safer to drink one glass of water after every alcoholic drink to dilute the alcohol effect. You can also eat salad with a hung curd dip which helps to regulate the alcohol effect.
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Try avoiding the main course partly or completely: If you have followed all the above mentioned tips, there are chances that you might feel too full to indulge in the main course. In such a case, if you can avoid the main course that is the best way. If it is unavoidable, then take a small serving of either rice and dal, or chapati (roti) and dal. Try avoiding all the gravy vegetables as they are loaded with fat. You can also take a helping of raita.
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Desserts: When it comes to desserts, marriages have variety that can make anyone's mouth water. Therefore, keep away from desserts section completely or keep postponing it to the end. That way once you are done with all the eating, you would be full or almost full and would not overeat. There is no harm in trying a bite or two, but the problem starts after two bites. Hence self control is a must.
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Food closures: Eat a pan, fennel (saunf) or any mouth-freshener as these are the closure item. And once you eat them, they will put away the temptation of eating further for some time. If you eat it before your desserts, they will probably keep you off the desserts completely.
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Lemon water and 15 minute walk: If you parked your vehicle away from the function area (as mentioned in the first point), you would have to walk back to your vehicle, which will help in digestion of your food. If not then walk for 15 minute at home (drawing room, balcony, parking, terrace or any open space), so that the extra calories eaten don't get carried forward and converted in fat. You can take a glass of lemon water once you reach home. The lemon water would help you in digestion.
Attending a marriage is all about enjoying the company of relatives and good friends. But the temptation to overeat is lurking at every marriage you attend. Being prepared can make all the difference!
