Wedding Bells Ringing? Comfort Foods For Bride-To-Be!!!

article-2013123549252933929000As beautiful as getting married is, it can be one of the most stressful times for a bride-to-be. A well-known fact is that stress can induce hunger pangs. Relying on foods to beat stress is very common. These ‘comfort foods’ are tempting, but they can be one of the major reasons behind the unwanted calories that pile up right before the special day. You definitely don’t want added kilos and oily skin on your D-day. Here is how you can transform these sinful foods into something wonderful.

1. Pasta in red sauce
This delicious comfort food can be transformed into a healthy meal by replacing the white sauce with a tomato sauce, adding antioxidant packed veggies like broccoli, cauliflower greens, beetroot, laced with crunchy lettuce leaves. You can even grate some skimmed milk cottage cheese (paneer) to add to the yumminess! If you must have the white sauce, use skimmed milk along with grated paneer for the preparation. Pick whole wheat pasta to make it even healthier.

2. Fruit juices and skimmed milkshakes
Thick shakes from your regular cafes have enough sugar and calories to wake up a dead man. They do make you feel good, but the guilt that follows is something that you can’t give a miss. So here is what you can do- chop your favourite fresh fruit in chilled skimmed milk with some ice in the blender and voila! You have your healthy fruit shake ready! You can even top it with more chopped fruits. Another option is to go for unsweetened fresh fruit juices.

3. Dark chocolates
Chocolates are a woman’s best friends. Well, at least for most in times of stress and panic. But the commonly available sugary chocolates or milk chocolates, apart from their high ‘feel good’ quotient, also stack you with unwanted calories from concentrated carbs. Dark chocolates i.e. the ones with 70-80% cocoa and unsweetened chocolates are the best choice if you are a choco-lover.

4. Nuts
The trans fats in commercially packed fried foods like chips and namkeen can take a major toll on your digestive system and skin. So instead, go for baked snacks, roasted papads or nuts like walnuts and almonds that are rich in healthy fats. You can credit these for the amazing glow that your skin and hair will flaunt on the special day.

5. Fruits and veggies
Rather than choosing ‘skin evils’ like salty, spicy, fried, trans fat loaded munchies, try to pick fresh fruits and vegetables. These are loaded with antioxidants that free your body of toxins. The fibre content in them also makes you feel full for a long time. The instant boost of energy, the healthy and fresh feel that they give is what will work wonders for you in this stressful period.

Some quick replacements and easy home choices are better than choosing commercially available foods. Also, remember that there is no substitute for regular physical activity. Aerobic exercises are known to relieve stress and improve blood circulation, thus working magic for your skin and hair. As a bride, what more can you ask for?

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