Whenever the Lunar New Year  is mentioned, the most anticipated event is the grand, "p?ng pai" (sumptuous) New Year's Eve dinner! However, holiday meals often feature a combination of "high oil, high sugar, and high salt," frequently leading to weight gain after the holidays. Don't worry—master these simple and practical "Lunar New Year Diet Tips" to enjoy a healthy and relaxed holiday!

I. New Year's Eve Main Dishes: The Art of Smart Selection and Consumption

The New Year's Eve dinner is a calorie battleground, and knowing how to choose is key.

Protein Selection: Prioritize White Meat and Seafood

●     Optimal Choices: Give priority to seafood like fish, shrimp, scallops, and squid, as well as "white meat" proteins such as skinless chicken. These have lower total fat and saturated fat than red meat.

●     Cooking Methods: Opt for steaming, grilling, stewing, braising, or cold toss. Avoid deep-fried or heavily oiled dishes.

●     High-Fat Cuts: The fat in pork hocks, Dongpo pork, and the skin of chicken/duck are high in fat and cholesterol. It's recommended to only eat the lean portions and remove the skin.

Vegetables: The Super Helper for Calorie Control

●     Vegetables are rich in dietary fiber, making them a superhero for controlling calories, increasing satiety, and stabilizing blood sugar!

●     Portion Goal: Aim for at least half a bowl of cooked green vegetables per meal! Leafy greens, Chinese cabbage, and celery are all excellent choices.

●     Avoid Hidden Oil: Many New Year vegetable dishes are stir-fried in oil or thickened with starch (hooked with sauce). If you see dishes with thick, rich sauce, remember to drain the sauce or rinse the food with water before eating to reduce oil and salt intake.

Soups and Hot Pots: High Sodium, High Oil Traps Holiday hot pots and soups are classic traps.

●     Hot Pot Ingredients: Try to replace processed hot pot items (like fish dumplings, egg dumplings, and meatballs) with fresh ingredients.

●     Broth: The longer the soup simmers, the higher the sodium and purine levels. It's suggested to only have a small bowl right after it starts boiling, and do not drink all of the soup.

●     Dipping Sauces: Avoid heavy-flavored sauces like satay sauce. Use scallions, ginger, garlic, natural vinegar, or lemon juice for seasoning instead, to reduce soy sauce and salt.

II.

Snacks and Drinks: Sweet Burdens and Simple Solutions.

 Watching TV and chatting while snacking can lead to consuming too many calories without realizing it.

Snacks: Prioritize Plain Nuts and Fresh Fruit Traditional Lunar New Year snacks (peanut brittle, nougat etc.) are mostly "high sugar, high oil, and high calorie".

●     Plain Nuts First: Nuts (walnuts, cashews, pistachios) contain healthy unsaturated fatty acids. Choose plain, unsalted nuts and portion them out—aim for about one teaspoon's worth (roughly a small handful) daily.

●     Natural Dessert: It's recommended to choose fresh fruit for snacks, such as seasonal fruits like citrus, jujubes, wax apples, or strawberries, which are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber.

●     Read Labels: Make it a habit to check the nutrition labels when shopping, selecting items that are non-fried, low in additives, and come in small packages.

Drinks: Water is the Best Beverage Soda, sugary teas, fruit juices, and alcohol are the "invisible champions" that silently increase your calorie intake.

●     Drink More Water: Water is the best beverage. Drink plenty of plain water or sparkling water to help with metabolism and increase satiety.

●     Self-Brewed Tea: Choose unsweetened teas (such as barley tea or oolong tea) or brew your own herbal tea.

●     Moderate Alcohol: Men should not exceed two cans of beer (or two standard drinks of alcohol equivalent) daily, and women should not exceed one can (or one standard drink).

III.

The "Golden Rules" of Holiday Eating

Changing eating habits and lifestyle is the key to a healthy Lunar New Year.

1.   Adjust Eating Order: Vegetables First, then Protein, then Starch This is the simplest yet most effective technique:

○     By ensuring you have enough fiber and protein in your stomach first, you will naturally eat less high-starch, high-fat staple foods.

2.    Smart Staple Food Swaps: Avoid Duplicating Starch Turnip cakes(luobo g?o) , New Year cakes(nian g?o), Eight Treasure Rice (b? b?o fan), Sticky Rice Cake(m? g?o) , spring rolls, and dumplings are all categorized as "starch/staple foods"!

○     Substitution Rule: If you have already eaten sticky rice cake or oiled rice(you fan) for the meal, remember to take half a bowl less of white rice, or even skip the white rice altogether.

○     Hidden Starches: Taro, pumpkin, corn, and yam in the hot pot are also starches. If you eat them, the amount of rice you eat should also be reduced accordingly.

3.   Avoid Overeating: Stick to 70–80% Full Remember to put down your chopsticks when you are seven or eight parts full. Give your digestive system a rest to reduce the burden on your body. Exercise is Essential: Get Moving! Get up and move after a meal. Even just helping to clear the dishes, visiting neighbors, or walking around the house can aid digestion and burn calories. Take a walk in the park with family to foster relationships and benefit your health.

Summary: 4 Slogans for a Healthy New Year

●     Follow the principles of low sugar, low salt, and low oil.

●     Eat until 70–80% full, and exercise after meals.

●     Eat snacks in moderation, and consume more whole fruits.

●     Eating order: Vegetables rightarrow Protein rightarrow Rice/Starch.