As the New Year is approaching, PhytoFairy believes everyone is busy preparing for New Year’s goods and food ingredients, getting ready for various delicious dishes, and looking forward to the joyful time of reunion dinners with children and grandchildren who will come home. As the Chinese saying goes: "Whenever there is a festival, there is weight gain". We all worry about gaining weight after the New Year, especially with the inevitable abundance of delicious foods. Therefore, PhytoFairy has prepared some health tips for everyone.

Healthy Eating During the New Year:

1. Balance: During the New Year, people tend to consume relatively fewer vegetables. Of course, there is no need to be too strict; aim for at least one or two servings of vegetables daily. Here's a tip that can easily increase your vegetable intake. Try a mix of meat and vegetables, such as cabbage-wrapped meat filling, broccoli stir-fried with shrimp, or garlic stir-fried pork. In addition to animal protein, consider plant-based proteins like tofu and bean curd sheets. Reduce the use of pickled foods, braising dishes, processed foods and seasonings to lower salt intake.

2. Moderation: When preparing ingredients, calculate portions per person to avoid overcooking, preventing waste and excessive eating that can lead to indigestion and weight gain.

3. Diversify: Prepare a variety of dishes in small quantities to not only obtain comprehensive nutrition but also increase appetite with different coloured foods.

4. Use Healthy Cooking Methods: Steam, boil, stew, stir-fry and so on. Prioritise light cooking with less oil, sugar, and salt.

5. Properly Store Leftovers: Keep raw and cooked foods separate in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination. Refrigerated leftovers should be consumed within 3 days, and make sure to reheat them thoroughly.

6. Choose Healthy Beverages: Consider low or no-sugar options, such as plain water and unsweetened green tea. You can also choose Phyto Chlorophyll Plus Liquid and Phyto Aloe Vera Juice to stay cool and refreshed. If you have already had a can of soda on a particular day, it's advisable to stick to plain water for the rest of the day. While gatherings may involve some alcohol consumption, remember not to drink on an empty stomach and drink alcohol in moderation.

New Year’s snacks are only available during the New Year period, and it's hard to resist taking one bite after another. Before you know it, you may realise you have gained some weight after the New Year. Don’t worry, PhytoFairy has 5 tips for you to enjoy New Year’s snacks without gaining weight:

1. Don't treat New Year’s snacks as full meals. Maintain regular meal portions, but consider reducing the size of your main meals slightly to make some space for New Year's snacks.

2. Avoid eating directly from the tin or container. It is easy to lose track and end up eating more than intended. Instead, place the New Year’s snacks in your palm or a small bowl to better control your portions.

3. Have a glass of water or a piece of fruit before indulging in New Year’s snacks. This can help to curb your appetite and prevent overeating.

4. Store your New Year’s snacks out of sight at home and only bring them out when guests are present. If they are prominently displayed, you may find yourself constantly snacking on them.

5. Avoid purchasing excessive amounts of New Year's snacks. Buying in bulk may lead to overconsumption. Opt for smaller packages of New Year's snacks to effectively reduce intake.

Besides New Year’s snacks, steamboat is undoubtedly a must during the New Year. Here are 6 healthy tips for enjoying a steamboat:

1. Choose your broth wisely: Avoid high-sodium broth cubes or canned broth. Opt for natural ingredients such as mushrooms, sweet corn, carrots, goji berries, and lean meats to make the steamboat delicious and healthy.

2. Use fresh ingredients: For example, fresh fish, boneless chicken breast, lean meat slices, fresh shrimp, tofu, and a variety of fresh vegetables to reduce the intake of organ meats and processed foods.

3. Eat in the correct order: Before diving into steamboat, start with a small bowl of vegetables to increase satiety and help reduce the intake of high-calorie foods.

4. Limit sauce usage: Control the intake of sauces; make your own healthy sauce with freshly chopped chillies or garlic paired with vinegar.

5. Chew thoroughly and eat slowly: This aids in the complete absorption of nutrients, enhances the feeling of fullness and prevents overeating.

6. Aware of utensil hygiene: Use separate chopsticks for raw and cooked foods; opt for communal chopsticks to avoid cross-contamination.

Stay Active:

In addition, avoid prolonged sitting to prevent discomfort such as eye strain, back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Standing up and moving around every 30 minutes or an hour is recommended. After a full meal, consider taking a short walk. It is not a bad idea to park your car a bit farther and give yourself some opportunities to move your body. Of course, ensure adequate rest and avoid excessive late nights.

Finally, the Lunar New Year comes only once a year, so there's no need to be overly strict with your diet. Enjoy the delicious food while keeping an eye on portion sizes. The most important thing is for everyone to have a joyful time during the New Year. PhytoFairy wishes everyone a Happy New Year and good health!