Yahoo Lifestyle How To Eat Healthy During Party Season
How to stay healthy during party season.
Ditch chips for popcorn
Why? First of all, we’re not talking about the buttery movie variety—but air-popped popcorn is a surprisingly healthy snack thanks to its high-fibre, low-calorie content. Four cups of the crunchy treat contains only 100 calories.
Who knew: Popcorn contains as many antioxidants and fruit and vegetables, according to a recent study.
Ditch a curry puff for a satay skewer
Why? It’s barely a bite, but a single curry puff packs a whopping 246 calories—that’s more than three Freddo frogs—without many nutrients to show for it. Grab a chicken satay skewer instead: the tasty stick contains loads of filling protein.
Who knew: Peanuts are brain food, due to their high levels of folate, vitamin E and healthy fats.
Ditch a margarita for a mojito
Why? Fiesta without the fat trap: margaritas come in at 338 calories a glass (that’s like having two and a half glasses of Riesling) and they’re usually made from sugary pre-mixers. Mojitos, on the other hand, come in at 132 calories, mainly thanks to the hydrating (and zero-calorie) soda water, fresh lime and mint. Want to be even healthier? Ask the bartender to halve the sugar.
Who knew: Limes contain cancer-fighting compounds.
Ditch spinach and cheese triangles for dolmades
Why? Spinach and cheese—so far, so healthy. But the high-GI, butter-laden pastry that envelops this Greek treat is far from it, pushing the calorie count past 200 and stacking up the saturated fat. Instead, opt for a vine leaf-wrapped dolmade, which come in at just 50 calories a roll.
Who knew: Pine nuts, one of dolmades’ ingredients, contain appetite-suppressing pinoleic acid.
Ditch sushi for edamame
Why? Sushi can be a calorie bomb with its hidden mayo and high-Gi white rice, whereas edamame is low in the things you don’t want (fat, calories) and high in all the things you do, like protein. Half a cup of the young soybeans has the same amount of filling fibre you’d find in four slices of wholemeal bread.
Who knew: A serving contains as much energy-boosting iron as a chicken breast.
Ditch salted nuts for olives
Why? Do not pass go, do not collect handfuls upon handfuls of nuts: flavor-packed olives are your best buffet bet—they’re loaded with iron, filling healthy fats and anti-oxidants that reduce inflammation and allergies. If you’re going to have nuts, stick to a very small handful.
Who knew: Black olives contain more antioxidants than green varieties.
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