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| THE Lunar New Year is a joyous Chinese festival, celebrated by all with family reunions and banquets galore. It is a time to eat heartily. |
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New Year advice: serve visitors with healthy dried fruits rather than high sugar snacks.
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But as staying healthy is as important as enjoying the festivity, the following suggestions may be useful.
Shopping for food
Steamed puddings and glutinous rice balls readily available in the market may have preservatives added to prevent changes due to prolonged exposure to air or temperature fluctuations. When shopping for food, pay attention to its storage, packaging and label. Do not buy from illegal hawkers because the food they sell may be unhygienic.
Lunar New Year snacks such as sesame balls, crispy triangles and New Year puddings are of high calorie and fat content. Eating too much results in excessive calorie and fat intake, which will affect your health. For the sake of health, refrain from buying and eating too much unhealthy food during the Chinese New Year.
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Prepare steamed pudding yourself to make sure the ingredients are healthy. To reduce fat intake, avoid using lapmei (Chinese cured meat) as an ingredient. Use healthier heating methods such as microwave oven heating or steaming before serving to reduce the amount of oil intake.
Serve your visitors with healthy snacks such as dried apricots, dried apples and dried bananas rather than high sugar snacks such as sweetened lotus seed, sweetened lotus root and chocolate. Traditional snacks such as rice crackers and crispy rice cakes are of low sugar content and are healthy choices.
As for Lunar New Year gifts, better pick fresh fruits, natural dried fruits, tea leaves, dried mushrooms or wholemeal crackers instead of snacks high in sugar and fat, such as chocolate, butter cookies and egg rolls.
Safe food storage
Lunar New Year is usually celebrated with abundant cuisines. Buy food according to your need and the size of your refrigerator. Food should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature below 4 degree Celsius. Do not cram too much food into the refrigerator. Leave enough space for the cool air to circulate.
Store raw meat in the freezer. To prevent contamination, cooked food such as steamed puddings or leftovers should be covered with plastic food wraps and stored in the upper compartment of the refrigerator while raw food should be stored in the lower compartment.
Maintain a well-balanced diet during Lunar New Year
Meals should be cereal-based. Don't prepare too many dishes, otherwise your stomach will have no room for cereals such as rice and noodles. Include vegetables in your meals.
And have regular meals as well. Never substitute regular meals with snacks.
Observe these rules to good food hygiene and a balanced diet if you want to eat healthily and heartily during the Lunar New Year.
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