How to prepare a healthy and tasty lunch for Mother’s Day

The nutritionist reveals some tricks for maintaining a balanced diet without giving up delicious foods

OR Mother’s Day lunch, traditionally, is a special time for most Brazilians. On this date, the family usually gathers around the table to catch up, kill nostalgia and have a good laugh. It is also in this period that many people overdo it and dive headlong into the most diverse dishes. Most are delicious and caloric.

Grill, pasta, alcohol and desserts are common elements in a good Mother’s Day lunch and, let’s face it, it’s not easy to give up all of this. But, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, is it really necessary to leave all these delicacies behind?

“Sharing meals promotes greater family unity and this is very necessary. Especially in the era in which we live. However, the issue is not necessarily in these dishes but in the frequency with which they are consumed, in the quantity ingested and in the side dishes served”, reveals nutritionist Cyntia Maureen.

You just need to have balance

For the expert, the key to success is having balance. If you, who are in a process of weight loss or nutritional re-education, completely deprive yourself of the foods that give you pleasure, this will not be sustainable for long and can lead to compulsions. On the other hand, if you’re not careful, you could throw away all the hard work you put in during the week.

“We must understand that eating is an act of pleasure and, together with the family, it is even more pleasant. This is why choosing the menu and composing the dish requires a lot of balance and moderation, so that the moment is lived with more joy and without exaggerating”, he warns the nutritionist.

Mother’s Day lunch options

A good tip is to try to include vegetables in these meals and keep an eye on the portions we eat. It’s not uncommon to eat a little more, even when you’re full. And, according to Cyntia, this is one of the main villains of good weekend eating behavior. Check out some expert-recommended options for Mother’s Day lunch:

“Vegetarian feijoada, for example, is a great option. Lighter, tastier and super nutritious. Vegetable pies, pasta or lasagna accompanied by a variety of raw vegetables. It is important to understand that raw salad, in addition to providing us with substances nutrients, essential for life, promote satiety. Therefore, by consuming it, the intake of the main dish will be lower, without having a significant impact on the diet”, reveals the nutritionist.

How to deal with guilt

But, if by chance you lost control, didn’t follow the nutritionist’s advice and overindulged in your Mother’s Day lunch, don’t worry. Nothing is lost. “Breathe, don’t blame yourself and make good choices again the next day. One step at a time, so that the new habits are incorporated in a more natural way and without suffering or feelings of guilt”, recommends the specialist.

For the professional, a good diet cannot be orthodox. Much less focus only on weight loss. “When we understand that we have to re-educate our diet, we work through choices. Because we know what is best for us and we “escape” from routine without weighing on our conscience. Diets, in general, cause a feeling of prohibition, which ends up leading to compulsion feed and make the situation worse”, concludes Cyntia.

Source: Cyntia Maureen, nutritionist at Superbom

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.