Holidays such as Chinese New Year and Christmas are good opportunities for gatherings with loved ones, while enjoying seasonal treats such as Chinese New Year cookies and Christmas turkey. Feast smartly by making healthier food choices so you can enjoy the celebrations while nourishing your body
<div class="ExternalClassA5684523A59B4700887E7E79F4E3E23F"><h2>Healthy Chinese New Year Food
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<p>Know the calorie count of your favourite snacks. One pineapple tart contains about 82 calories, one love letter contains about 56 calories, and a single slice of bak kwa contains a hefty 370 calories. To help curb your caloric intake, snack on mandarin oranges instead, and aim for <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/56/fruits-and-veggies" title="Fruit and Veggies">two servings of fruit a day</a> — that’s approximately two small mandarin oranges.</p><p>When buying new year cookies, visit bakeries that offer low-sugar or gluten free options on traditional favourites like pineapple tarts and love letters. Polar’s sugar roll is among its most popular items, and comes in a whole grain, reduced sugar version so you can consume it guilt-free<a href="#footnotes"><sup>[1]</sup></a>.</p><p>Bak Kwa is a Chinese New Year staple, but the barbecued pork jerky packs a punch in fat and sugar. Cut slices of bak kwa into smaller pieces, and limit yourself to one to two pieces to control your caloric intake.</p><p>While steamboat is a common Chinese New Year meal, they can be high in sodium, oil and fat. Replaced processed food such as crab meat sticks, sausages and fishballs with fresh ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms and fresh fish. Prepare a simple stock by boiling skinless, lean chicken meat with carrots, corn and potatoes, which will sweeten the soup naturally.</p>
<p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/290/how_to_survive_chinese_new_year_feasts" title="How to Survive Chinese New Year Feasts">How to Survive Chinese New Year Feasts</a></strong></p><font color="#0072c6" face="Segoe UI Semilight, Segoe UI, Segoe, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.98px;">Healthy Christmas Dinner</span></font>
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</p><p>Turkey is good choice of lean protein, as long as you stay away from too much cranberry sauce and gravy! Avoid the skin to lower your caloric and cholesterol intake. Chicken, especially chicken breast, is an alternative source of healthy protein.</p><p>Toss a fresh, green salad to accompany your meat. Diets rich in plant protein have been linked to lowered blood pressure and <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1428/diabetes-and-high-blood-cholesterol" title="Diabetes and High Blood Cholesterol">cholesterol</a> levels<a href="#footnotes"><sup>[2]</sup></a>, and provide a good source of <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1049/more-fibre-for-a-fit-and-fabulous-you" title="More Fibre For A Fit And Fabulous You">fibre</a>.</p><p>When filling your plate, choose larger portions of healthy dishes such as lean meat, salad and roasted vegetables. Take smaller amounts of cream based and cheesy foods, which will help to lower your fat content.</p><h2>Healthy Christmas Treats
</h2><p>What’s a festive season without dessert? Christmas is a time for puddings and log cakes, as long as you enjoy them in moderation. Drink a cup of unsweetened tea before desserts, which will fill you up so you don’t overindulge. <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/979/i-love-coffee-i-love-tea" title="I Love Coffee, I Love Tea">Tea is also high in antioxidants which helps fight free radicals</a>. These free radicals are elements that damage our cells and have been linked with health issues<a href="#footnotes"><sup>[3]</sup></a>.</p><p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/196/toast_to_health_christmas_new_year" title="Toast to Health This Christmas and New Year Season">Toast to Health This Christmas and New Year Season</a></strong></p><h2>Healthy Hosting
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</p><p>If you’re throwing a party, look for <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1469/big-parties-small-bites-or-five-steps-to-healthier-workplace-meals" title="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1469/big-parties-small-bites-or-five-steps-to-healthier-workplace-meals">caterers</a> which are part of the <a href="https://www.onemap.sg/index.html?LW:Y&drowo2:IJq&wO5d:haRb_R%2cJfIcf_q%2cfaRYf_f%2cfYcfJ_I%2cq" title="Healthier Caterers">Healthier Dining Programme</a>. These businesses offer healthier ingredients such as <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/58/a-guide-to-carbs" title="A Guide To Carbs">whole grains</a>, healthier cooking oil, and less deep fried items in their menus. Limit the amount of deep fried food in a buffet spread. Out of ten dishes, try not to order more than two deep fried ones. Include salads or fruit platters in your buffet spread instead, which will help your guests enjoy a healthier festive season!
</p><hr /><p><strong>Read these next:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1454/choosing-healthier-festive-foods-hari-raya-and-deepavali" title="Choosing Healthier Festive Foods: Hari Raya and Deepavali">Choosing Healthier Festive Foods: Hari Raya and Deepavali</a></li><li><a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/194/spring_to_health_CNY" title="Spring to Health This Chinese New Year">Spring to Health This Chinese New Year</a></li></ul><div class="footnote" style="margin:20px 0px 0px;padding:5px 2.5%;border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;">
<h2>References</h2><ol id="footnotes" style="margin:0px;"><li>The Straits Times. (2013, Mar 28). Polytechnics work to give products a healthy twist. <em>Mind Your Body</em>, pp. 12
</li><li>Brown, M. J. (n.d.). Animal vs Plant Protein — What’s the Difference? [Website].
Retrieved March 2017 from https://authoritynutrition.com/animal-vs-plant-protein/
</li><li>Health Promotion Board. (2016, Mar 22). I Love Coffee, I Loce Tea [Website].
Retrieved March 2017 from https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/979/i-love-coffee-i-love-tea
</li></ol></div></div>
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Thursday, June 14, 2018
No
1470
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
<div class="ExternalClassA318562EAD924B8098B4452F01AA643E"><p>Health Promotion Board
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Singapore 168937</p></div>
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Healthy Christmas and Chinese New Year Food
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