5 Tips on How to Stay Healthy during Chinese New Year

From proper planning before the festivities to repurposing delicious CNY leftovers, here are very doable tips for feasting healthily this Chinese New Year.

Text: Rebecca Morais

Happy Lunar New Year

Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate with family and friends with laughter and enjoying those pineapple tarts! If you want to relish the festive season without putting on any post-Chinese New Year (CNY) kilos, we have a few tips to get you through.  

From proper planning before the festivities to repurposing delicious CNY leftovers, here are some very doable tips to have a balanced Chinese New Year.

Find time for a quick workout, whether that's HIIT or walking to a friend's house

Take house visiting as an opportunity to do a little light exercise. Plan your visits within the same neighbourhood so you can walk between stops. Alternatively, park your car or alight from your public transport 15 minutes away from your destination for some exercise. If you're looking to burn some extra calories, take the stairs instead of the lift; that way, you feel a lot less guilty indulging in that piece of Bak Kwa.

Have proper meals, even if it's a light one

Eat a bowl of healthy vegetables at home before feasting

You may think you’re doing yourself good by saving room for snacks, but it’s important to eat proper meals, even if it is a light one. It might seem like a brilliant idea to starve yourself until you start snacking, so you save space for those pineapple tarts, but what ends up happening is you overeat and or end up binge eating when you don't have a proper meal. Having some fruit, nuts, or steamed vegetables before visits is a great way to keep you satiated. They also contain a lot of fibre that is much needed for a healthy digestive system, especially when it’s taking a sugar hit.

Remember to take your vitamin C

Fuel yourself with Vitamin C to build your immunity. Especially with the Rona round the corner, now more than ever it is important to boost your immune system. If you’re not someone who likes popping supplement pills, Mandarins are a fantastic source of Vitamin C. They provide more than half the recommended daily allowance for adults.

Mandarins are a fantastic source of Vitamin C

Feast selectively

We know it’s exciting to try your aunt’s yummy homemade delicacies but instead of piling all the food on your plate, be selective about which dishes you want to try and serve yourself those instead.

According to Mount Elizabeth Hospital’s health site, here’s a calorie count guide for some of the most popular goodies so that you have a ballpark figure on the calories you're eating.

1. Nian Gao – 482 calories per serving

2. Bak Kwa – 179 calories per piece

3. Peanuts – 170 calories per bowl (30g)

4. Kueh Lapis 157 calories per piece

5. Love Letters – 112 calories per piece

6. Cornflake Cookies – 82.8 calories per piece

7. Pineapple Tarts – 82 calories per piece

Seriously Keto Prosperous Bundle ($108.80) comprises of Chinese New Year classics

It doesn’t hurt to indulge a little, but be conscious of how many snacks you're eating

Last but not least, don’t deprive yourself of ringing in the Lunar New Year. There are also healthy alternatives out there such as Seriously Keto’s handcrafted goodies – “No Pineapple” Pineapple Tarts, Pecan Coconut Tart, and Cashew Cookies. In addition, the brand features low-carb, keto- and diabetic-friendly treats that are perfect healthier alternatives, year-round.

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