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| Photo credit: livelifeactive.com |
My guess is that you probably have a wedding to attend this
weekend. Alright if it isn’t a wedding, then perhaps a naming ceremony or a
birthday party—or better still, just a weekend at home where you want to be a
couch potato and not worry about what you’re eating. And indeed, it is well
deserved (if you’ve been good with your portions this week). Here are some
things to consider before “turn-up” begins and your TGIF is encumbered with
unnecessary consumption:
1.
Calculate
your risk:
Just because you’ve decided to
indulge doesn’t mean you cannot calculate and control your indulgence. If
you’re planning on having a cheesecake, input those calories in your diet and
cut down on, say, the carbohydrates in your lunch. You’ll find that the
satisfaction from your cheesecake will outweigh the portion of yam pottage or
pounded yam that you halved.
2.
Enjoy
your indulgence:
I usually enjoy my indulgence
with my own mini party. Invite a friend to have it with you, or eat it whilst
watching your favourite show or pairing it with a fantastic cuppa. Don’t beat
yourself up for indulging. Trust me, if you don’t indulge, you’ll feel
deprived. And deprivation is unsustainable. Your lifestyle must be sustainable
so that it doesn’t end up being a “phase”. Phases end, but lifestyles are for a
lifetime.
3.
Eat a
healthy (but filling) meal before setting out:
a.
Instead of an akara/fried yam/pancake/bread breakfast,
why not have a whole leaf of moin moin with ogi (pap, akamu, kunnu) or even
oatmeal? This meal is much lower in calories and will keep you full for a long
time. With the accompaniment, watch the sugar and milk. Again, measuring is
key! I submit that you can thoroughly enjoy your ogi (and its variations as
mentioned above) with 1 (level) teaspoon of sugar and 1 (level) tablespoon of
powdered milk or 2 tablespoons of evaporated milk. I really don’t encourage
powdered milk because it’s been processed quite a bit and is packed with
saturated fat but I know that lots of people enjoy it and won’t compromise. OR,
why not try banana pancakes? Yum Yum.
4.
Steer
clear of what looks the “whitest”.
It’s a party, so you will
probably overdo the calories. But there doesn’t need to be collateral damage.
You can enjoy vegetable (efo), moin moin, fish, pepper soup and similar foods
to your satisfaction. However, significantly reduce portions of foods such as puff puff, pounded yam, cake,
semovita, rice and egusi (list not exhaustive). Even the former set of foods
will need portion control, but stricter control is required for the latter.
5.
Share
the calories
That’s what friends are for! Sharing
your dessert with friends often does the trick when you’re trying to be prudent
with your calories. Again, the same satisfaction you get from having one full
cup of ice cream is sometimes the same satisfaction you attain from half a cup.
And when fod is shared, you tend to eat more because you’re enjoying the foo’company
(yes, I just made that word up. :D).
Have a lovely weekend guys!
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