I ate everything & gained....
Hey Reader
I ate everything & gained lots of loving memories wrapping up my year 2022 on a HAPPY NOTE. :)
You know right that I was on a break (holiday) for almost three and a half weeks. Yeah, I visited my family & friends back home. I met my most cherished friends from college after 15 years. CRAZY RIGHT...& it was so so amazing. REALLYYY !!!
I also spent some quality time with my siblings, parents & my in laws. While coming back we took a longer route so we could meet our old friends from Nigeria, who now moved to Doha last year after living in India for last 4-5 years. This is what I call an Expat Life. Exciting but at the same time quiet challenging.
Christmas & New Years for me is family time, eating my favorite foods & living a laid back no hustle time. I did exactly this on my trip THIS TIME AGAIN. Although travel within India is quiet time taking & cumbersome task which I kinda hate, we have to do it nevertheless every year. Summer being so hot and humid, December is the best time for us to enjoy the pleasant weather & unique range of fresh produce we get to eat during this time of the year.
I enjoyed so much food, it's almost unbelievable. I ate all my favorites' from rice roti, dal pittha, millet paratha, dosa, litti, puri bhaji, kheer, chaat, pani puri, momos, pad thai, coconut water, lots of seasonal fruits which I don't find in the Netherlands & many more simple "ghar ka khana" (home made food). The list goes on.
Did I gain weight? BIG QUESTION...RIGHT?
YES & does that bother me? Absolutely not. Three things I was very mindful about...
Firstly, I ate slow & until 80% full. I waited for few minutes to see if I actually needed more serving. Most times, when we are served food, we end up eating more so I had to break that habit.
Secondly, I skimped on desserts (one portion a day in some form which could be a home made dessert or store bought healthy traditional desserts such Chikki (nut based sweets) or Tilkut (both are special winter delicacies which is not just yum to eat but also have winter warming properties if eaten in moderation).
Thirdly, I avoided all packaged foods such as namkin, cookies, chips, store bought mithai (sweets), or chocolates.
Everything I ate was Vegan (thanks to my family & my niece who ordered for me special plant-based milk so I could enjoy home made desserts & chai). My favorite milk brand in India are Epigamia's unsweetened almond milk &One Good Brand -Cashew-Millet milk. Both are easily available on amazon & Big Basket in most Indian city.
So this is my verdict on travel or any such situation where you don't have full control on your food intake- "you should always feel food freedom no matter what", this doesn't mean you eat any rubbish (junk and processed foods) but feeling deprived or restricting calories not just strips joy from life but also jeopardies your health in the long run.
Love,
Ekta
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