As a rule, most women carefully prepare for the New Year holidays—going on diets or spending hours at the gym. And all this effort is often ruined in one night by consuming huge amounts of fatty salads, desserts, and alcohol. Want to keep your hard-earned slimness after the festive feast? Follow these simple rules to avoid overeating.
Have a snack beforehand
Usually on December 31st we try to eat as little as possible during the day so as not to spoil our appetite and fully enjoy the holiday feast. As a result, we end up overeating. To prevent the celebration from turning into a gluttony binge, have a light snack about two hours before the meal. This step will protect you not only from excess calories but also from rapid alcohol intoxication. Eat a bit of vegetable salad dressed with olive oil or a sandwich with red caviar—the fat will form a protective lining in the stomach, slowing down alcohol absorption. By the way, a couple of hours before New Year’s, it wouldn’t hurt to drink a small amount of alcohol: 30–50 grams of something strong will activate digestive enzymes in the pancreas and liver, helping these organs better handle alcohol during the celebration.
Forget about sausages
During the USSR era and immediately after its collapse, having meat cold cuts on the table was a sign of the household’s material well-being. That’s why most Russians would save for months just to serve their dream salami and ham on New Year’s. Nowadays, no one is impressed by these delicacies, yet the tradition remains, and even at lavish holiday tables, we stubbornly place plates of various cold cuts. However, dietitians consider these products harmful. Moreover, they are among the most calorie-dense foods. You should also avoid cheese on New Year’s night. While cheese is necessary in everyday life, it contains hidden fats that contribute to extra inches on your thighs.
Replace mayonnaise with sour cream
Ideally, the New Year’s table should be abundant with light dishes—vegetable salads, fruits, baked eggplants and zucchinis, and non-fried meats. Yet in reality, few people are willing to celebrate with such healthy foods. Even at a diet-friendly table, there’s always room for a salad like Olivier. If you can’t give it up, at least try to make it lighter. First, replace the high-calorie boiled sausage with lean, healthy poultry: goose, turkey, or chicken. Second, ban the main holiday villain—mayonnaise. This dressing consists of 65% fat and also contains large amounts of salt and cholesterol. To minimize mayonnaise’s negative impact, substitute it with sour cream, which has one-third the calories (200 kcal vs. 600). Even healthier is dressing salads with cheese. To do this, blend 4% cheese in a food processor with plain yogurt or kefir.
Don’t over-season
Did you know that many seemingly ordinary foods are major appetite stimulants? These include pickles, garlic, onions, and spices. Unfortunately, food often tastes bland without the last two—pepper and salt. However, you can trick your taste buds by replacing spices with aromatic herbs (basil, cilantro, and parsley) and lemon (or grapefruit) juice. They will add zest to your dishes, and you’ll feel full faster than when eating spicy or salty foods. By the way, avoid overindulging in aspic and jellied meats—they contain extractive substances that stimulate appetite.
Buy ice cream
Of course, it’s better to skip desserts during a rich New Year’s meal. However, guests are unlikely to appreciate your dietary discipline, and you yourself might crave something sweet. So plan your tea-time treats in advance. Under no circumstances should you decorate your table with a buttery cake full of saturated fats and easily digestible carbohydrates. Instead, opt for pastries with a less caloric cheese-based cream or fresh fruits with whipped cream. Low-fat ice cream cake is another good option. A piece of this dessert contains four times fewer calories than eclairs or “Napoleon” cake.
