ASK BASYA

Dear Basya,

Purim is coming and I am determined not to mess up my diet. Do you have any tips for staying on track throughout the day? We have a night meal, a morning meal, an afternoon meal, and a constant flow of treats and sweets in our home. Please help!

Signed, Panicking before Purim

 

Dear Panicking,

Although Purim is only one day long, many dieters or people who are just careful with their intake during the year have a hard time on this day.

We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get through it successfully:

 

Mishloach Manos:

If you receive one that contains chips, sugary snacks and/or commercialised juices, either re-gift it or donate the items to people in need. Do not see it as an excuse to consume any of these items as it will probably not end in “just one”; there will be many more, and once you start eating you will likely crave sugar and have a hard time stopping.

 

Menu planning:

If you are hosting a party, there is nothing wrong with providing your guests with healthy choices. Try serving freshly squeezed juices instead of soda, whole wheat dinner rolls instead of regular ones, oven-cooked chicken instead of fried chicken and dressing on the side for the freshly prepared
salads.

Parties not hosted by you:

If you are going to a party hosted by your neighbor, friend or even at your local shul, try your best to find out what is going to be served and prepare accordingly. If the choices are not the best, try eating at home so that when you get to the party, you won’t eat as much. You can also try bringing some healthy snacks with you such as almonds, walnuts or raisins. Think of it as your very own fruit and nut mix.

 

Wine and drinking:

Purim is the holiday of wine drinking but be mindful of how much alcohol you are consuming. Just 4 oz. of red wine has 100 calories. Imagine if you drink three cups (8 oz each), you will consume 600 calories from wine alone!

 

Hamantashen:

I realize that hamantaschen are traditional on Purim but that doesn’t mean you have to consume dozens of them. One or two will satisfy the taste buds without contributing too many calories. I suggest consuming them late in the day so you don’t spend the whole day craving them.

Good Luck!

Basya