From The Straits Times    |

Image: tatchai/123rf

Chinese New Year is a glorious time for our tastebuds. It’s every food lover’s dream come true: Chinese dumplings, crispy pork belly, seafood steamboat… The list of mouthwatering dishes goes on and on. Not to mention the huge tins of bak kwa, pineapple tarts and pork floss crackers found at every house you visit! 

Enjoy the food all you like, but keep in mind that all that “good stuff” may eventually show up on your thighs or waistline. Yes, bloated bellies and chubby faces are a common sight as we make our way back to the office after the Chinese New Year holidays, but that doesn’t mean that you’re bound to lose your hard-earned figure after reunion dinner.

It may take some discipline, but trust me when I say that practicing these four tips is much easier than working overtime at the gym to shed excess weight. With that, go have fun! 

1. Know the calories in your favourite local dishes

2. Exercise can be simple!

3. Bake Janice Wong’s sugar-free pineapple tarts

4. Eat the correct meal portions