It’s hard not to be fat! 50% of people spend too much money on snacks during the Chinese New Year

Stop hoarding New Year snacks! Before the Chinese New Year, every household buys a large amount of biscuits and snacks to prepare to entertain relatives and friends who come to gather together. However, a survey by the National Health Administration found that 50% of the people eat snacks, candies and snacks one after another during the Chinese New Year, and the total intake is much more than usual. They almost forget the hidden high-oil, high-sugar, high-salt and high-calorie traps of these snacks. Eating them for 9 consecutive days during the New Year holiday may cause a considerable burden on the body.

A survey conducted by the National Health Administration found that 50% of the public consumed more snacks during the Chinese New Year than usual.

Be careful when eating New Year's snacks, as the calories may exceed 1/2 of the daily

The National Health Administration said that the results of the 104th Spring Festival Weight Control Telephone Survey showed that during the Spring Festival, 50% of the public consumed more cookies, candies, and snacks than usual. If people eat 3 servings of honey pork jerky (1 serving is 25 grams), 2 pineapple cakes, 20 sugar-coated peanuts, 3 nougats, 10 slices of seaweed crisps, and drink a bottle of Coke during the Spring Festival, the total calories are 1050 kcal, which is more than half of the 1800 kcal required by a 60-kg static worker in a day. Calculated at a slow walking speed of 4 kilometers per hour, it will take 5 hours to burn off the calories from the snacks.

In addition to being high in calories, the above-mentioned mixed snacks have a sugar content of up to 124 grams, which is equivalent to eating 25 sugar cubes, and is 5 times the upper limit recommended by the World Health Organization (the World Health Organization recommends that the intake of free sugars should not exceed 5% of the total calorie intake, which is about 4 to 5 sugar cubes); the saturated fat content is 8.7 grams (the World Health Organization recommends that the intake of saturated fat should be less than 10% of the total calorie intake, which is about 20 grams). The saturated fat in this small snack accounts for 40% of the daily upper limit; the sodium content is 1061 mg (the recommended daily sodium intake is 2400 mg), which accounts for 40% of the recommended daily upper limit of sodium.

5 quick rules to avoid burden when eating snacks during Chinese New Year

It’s not that you can’t eat snacks, but you need to eat them skillfully! National Health Administration Director Chiu Shu-ti provides the "Five Principles of Monkey (Good) Vitality" for Chinese New Year as a reference.

【5 Principles of Monkey (Good) Vitality】

1. Replace sweet drinks with sugar-free tea: It is recommended to choose boiled water or sugar-free tea to replace sugary drinks that only provide sugar and have low nutritional value. This can quench your thirst without causing any burden to your body.

Nuts and seeds are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which have antioxidant and heart-protecting functions, but daily intake should be limited to one serving.

2. Eat a natural and less processed diet: Many processed foods are high in sugar, sodium, saturated fat and calories, and nutrients are easily lost after processing. It is recommended to replace honey or other processed flavors with original flavors, and fresh fruits instead of dried fruits or processed fruits. It is recommended to consume 2 to 4 servings of fruit every day (1 serving of fruit is approximately equal to 23 small tomatoes, or 2 wax apples, or 1 tangerine, or 1 guava, or 1 small apple). It not only contains dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal motility and increase satiety, but also is rich in vitamins and minerals.

3. A moderate amount of nuts improves health: The first choice for New Year snacks is various "original" nuts and seeds, which are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and other nutrients, and have antioxidant, gastrointestinal motility, and heart protection functions. However, nuts are oils, so it is sufficient to consume one serving per day (about 5 cashews, 5 almonds, or 10 peanuts). Do not consume too much to prevent obesity.

4. Share snacks in small amounts: Follow the principles of "choose original nuts" and "natural and less processed", eat in small amounts and slowly, share with friends and family, and avoid overeating.

5. Go out for a spring outing to stay energetic: Remember to maintain the good habit of measuring your weight every day, and go out for a spring outing with your relatives and friends to increase physical activity. Also, don't forget to bring a water bottle with you and drink plenty of boiled water to help your body's normal metabolic function.