Ekaterina Golovkova, official representative of Rospotrebnadzor, deputy director of the FBUZ Center for Hygienic Education of the Population, information curator of the Healthy Food project
The New Year and the winter holidays that follow are just around the corner. Ekaterina Golovkova, our permanent expert, official representative of Rospotrebnadzor, deputy director of the Center for Hygienic Education of the Population, information curator of the Healthy Eating project, tells us how to celebrate the holidays with dignity and not gain weight.
WE MAKE A SCENARIO FOR THE WEEK “BEFORE”
You need to prepare for the New Year in advance, at least a week in advance.
I advise you to start with menu planning. The correct choice of products and a clear scenario for the appearance of festive dishes on the table will allow you to avoid unnecessary trouble when preparing a New Year’s dinner. At the same time, all dishes will retain their freshness and attractive appearance.
Overeating at night rarely passes without a trace for the body. A full stomach can bring many problems. The best option for a festive feast – “See the old year” – dinner around 22:00. That’s when the main hot dish should be served. And salads, sandwiches and desserts are best left for the climax of the celebration – midnight and the early hours of the New Year. At the same time, it is not necessary to spread everything in advance on large plates and salad bowls. It is better to keep most of the food in the refrigerator and serve it in small portions. In cold and sealed packages, dishes will retain their freshness and attractive appearance. If necessary, you can use cling film.
How long the products are stored – see.
EASY DRESSINGS FOR SALADS
Of course, it is difficult to imagine a New Year’s table without traditional hearty salads seasoned with mayonnaise or other sauces familiar to such celebrations. Difficult, but possible. For active New Year’s fun this is not the best company. The party will be a joy if you choose the right and useful replacement. Try making your own salad dressings with olive or other vegetable oil, as well as yogurt or sour cream. And remember that dishes with sauces, especially with mayonnaise and sour cream, are perishable. Dangerous bacteria multiply rapidly in them. This is only the case when, when serving, the dishes are placed in the refrigerator in small portions so that they do not remain on the table for a long time.
A good option for seasoning New Year’s dishes is vegetable oil. Any option is good: olive, sunflower, corn, etc. Salads with such ingredients, as well as seasoned with, for example, balsamic vinegar, are relatively safe. They don’t spoil as quickly and can be stored at room temperature for several hours. But before filling the salad with oil, you need to check its expiration date.
REMEMBER THE “ONE PLATE RULE”
Do not sit down at the festive table on an empty stomach; this can lead to overeating quickly. Do not forget about breakfast, eat during the day: then in the evening it will be easier to control your appetite.
Many people ask: how much can you eat on New Year’s Eve without consequences?
Of course, each person has their own characteristics of eating behavior and their own rules. But there is the so-called single plate rule. Everything is put into it, but in small quantities. It is advisable to “stretch” the portion for the entire duration of the feast. This rule will avoid the unpleasant consequences of excessive consumption.
By the way, ideas and recipes for original New Year’s dishes can be “looked at” in the New Year’s duel “Wonderfully served”.
WHAT TO DRINK – AND DON’T FORGET THE WATER
Another invariable attribute of a fun holiday is alcoholic beverages. Ideally, of course, you should try to have fun sober. But if you can’t do without sparkling, then let reason prevail over enthusiasm when using it. The combination of different dishes and alcohol is a matter of taste. The main thing to focus on is a sense of proportion.
In the bustle of pre-holiday preparations, they often forget about the drinking regimen and, sitting at the table, are immediately attracted by a series of toasts. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so it’s not surprising to get alcohol poisoning even with moderate consumption. Don’t forget to drink water throughout the day. And on the festive table there must be drinking water without gas.
