Some reasons and their solutions
Holidays and social commitments: Your calendar is full of invitations to parties. Many celebrations are held in your honour– skipping or not eating at any function is not an option. Socializing happens over meals and one indulges in mindless overeating.
Solution:Eat and go or make low-calorie food choices. Avoid empty calories like alcohol and mocktails. Exercise more and eat less the next day.
Lack of physical activity: No one exercisesat home. You are expected to watch television with the family instead of taking a jog.
Solution: Women are bound to put on weight due to pregnancy and menopause, henceexercising is non-negotiable throughout life. Encourage the family to live a more active lifestyle and indulge in activities such as walking and gardening, besides exercising.If you cannot leave the house, do yoga or aerobics in your room.
Meals: You are expected to eat with the rest of the family. However,the meal timings are erratic and you often skip your breakfast. In such cases, you are left so hungry by the next meal that you overeat. Dinner is eaten late and you wake up feeling bloated.
Solution: Skipping meals, especially breakfast can lead to many health conditions such as acidity and weight gain. Maintain consistent meal timings and never starve yourself. If you have to eat with the family, snack on a fruit or nuts to keep your metabolism from slowing down and prevent overeating in the next meal.
Changes in type of foods, nutrients in food and cooking style: You are eating different foods cooked with different oils and spices. Nutrients in the food are lost due to overcooking and eating leftovers from the previous day. Vegetables are fried rather than sautéed or steamed. No meal is complete without a potato dish.
Solution: Stock your kitchen with all food groups like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and healthy cooking oil like olive oil. Eat a variety of seasonal and freshly prepared foods. Choose high fibre foods and fruits for sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. Cooking techniques like steam or light stir-frying are the best options. |