How To Keep The Chinese New Year Weight Gain At Bay
Chinese New Year is all about celebrating and connecting with loved ones – and what’s a stronger bonding factor than food? From pineapple tarts to bak kwa and endless yu sheng, Chinese New Year is a non-stop feast fest. But let’s be real: it’s also the season of unbuttoning jeans and vowing to “start eating healthy tomorrow” (not to mention undoing all those New Year's fitness resolutions)!
With a few hacks and a little bit of discipline, you can still enjoy all the festive goodies without tipping the scales. Here’s how I navigate the annual CNY food marathon without sacrificing my waistline.
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Portion control is key
Those tins of pineapple tarts and love letters are calling your name, but say no to your aunty shoving the whole container to you. Instead of snacking straight from the source (no judgement, we’ve all been there), try portioning them onto a small plate.
Why? When you can see how much you’re eating, you’re less likely to overindulge. Bonus tip: use chopsticks to eat snacks – it slows you down and makes you think twice before reaching for that next piece of bak kwa!
Keep tabs on those calories
Logging your meals on a calorie counting app may seem a little extra, but trust us, it works. These apps show you the amount of calories you’ve been munching on throughout the day so that you don’t go overboard. I use Lose It! to log my meals, and it even helps you tailor a ‘calorie budget’ based on your gender, height, current weight and age so that you don’t go beyond your Basal Metabolic Rate.
Think of it as balancing a food budget: if you splurge on cornflakes cookies, you might want to go lighter on the kueh bangkit later. Moderation is key to a lot of things in life, including CNY snacks!
Drink smart
Festive drinks are sneaky culprits when it comes to calorie overload. The calories from those sugary sodas and sweet teas like chrysanthemum tea and lychee juice can add up fast. If there’s a choice, go for low-sugar or sugar-free drinks instead. If all else fails, you can never go wrong with a glass of plain water.
Tip: Find yourself craving for a can of soda? Switch to sparkling water instead, which gives you the same fizz but with no calories.
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Sneak in quick workouts
With all the visiting and feasting every day, finding time to exercise can be tough. My solution is to slot in quick, efficient workouts like a 30-minute HIIT session at home in the morning or a brisk run along my park connector.
Even better, get the fam involved! Organise a post-lunch friendly game of badminton or pickleball – it’s a great way to bond and burn off some of those scrumptious meals at the same time.
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Get your steps in
Don’t underestimate the power of walking. Aim for 5,000 to 10,000 steps a day – it’s easier than you think during CNY. Instead of taking a cab, use public transport to get to your relatives’ house. Or even better, walk! And when you get to their HDB, take the stairs instead of the lift (your quads will thank you).
Little changes add up, and before you know it, you’ve turned a day of visiting into a mini workout.
Sharing is caring
Received a mountain of snacks from your relatives? Share the love (and the calories). Go around offering goodies to your friends and family. You won’t be left with a stash of temptations at home. Plus, sharing means you get to enjoy a bit of everything without overindulging.
Avoid mindless snacking
It’s easy to munch away on pineapple tarts while binge-watching CNY dramas, catching up with your cousins, or playing mahjong into the wee hours. But this mindless snacking can quickly add up. Be mindful of what you’re eating. Instead of plonking down a tray of snacks, stick to the small plate strategy.
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Opt for lighter meals whenever possible
If you know you’re heading for a big feast at night, go lighter on food during the day. Swap your usual breakfast for a smoothie or some fresh fruit. Keep lunch simple with a soup or salad (and nope, yusheng doesn't count). This way, you’ll feel less guilty when you inevitably go for that second helping of roast duck.
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