It is wedding season in India. And as every Indian knows each wedding has so many rituals, and traditions that are carried out elaborately for 4 to 5 days. Just as there are different rituals and ceremonies on each day, an array of sumptuous dishes are laid out for the guests that are so tempting that even a person on a strict diet ends up eating much more than planned.
Now for those with blood sugar issues, it can be a big problem and they are often in dilemma whether they should eat and enjoy or just look at the food and maintain their health. Here are a few tips to maintain your blood sugar levels during the wedding season.
Eat before leaving for a party
When your stomach is full, you end up eating less junk at the party. So before going to any wedding reception make sure that you eat some wholesome, healthy food such as khichdi or dal chawal. Once you reach the party, keep control of the portion of the starters and eat only those that you really like instead of munching on every serving that is offered.
Eat only till your stomach is half full. If at all you want to drink, do it after the dinner. Stick to basic meals like roti, sabzi, dal, and rice. Eating a small portion of a fried item or homemade, desi mithai will put your cravings to rest. It is not wrong to enjoy your pulav or sweets but make sure that the other food items you choose on your plate are healthier and it will not lead to a blood sugar spike.
Prepare your body to support excess consumption
Do not skip your exercise just because you need to attend a wedding and you are short on time. If it is not possible to travel to your gym, just do sun salutations in batches of 4 to 5. It will take less than 20 minutes and will also help you digest the excess food at the party easily. Fitness is a continuous process and no wedding or an event should stop your efforts towards maintaining it.
Is mithai the villain for diabetics?
While overindulgence can be problematic, having your favourite Kaju Katli or besan ladoo made in ghee during winter can never lead to blood sugar spikes. Instead, when you replace these desi homemade mithai’s with red velvet cake, brownies, and dark chocolates you start getting into trouble.
According to Dr. Rajebahadur, Consultant – cardiologist from SRV Hospital in Gurgaon, “Sweets made in ghee are a time-tested recipe that cause the least amount of disturbance to blood sugar levels when consumed in moderation. This fact is especially important to keep in mind for those who are diabetic or would like to lose weight.”
Apart from these helpful tips, avoiding processed foods , and eating soaked dry fruits instead of processed and packaged ones can go a long way in keeping your blood sugar levels to normal even if you go a little bit overboard during the wedding parties in winter.