The wedding bells are ringing!
You’ve found your soulmate and you can’t wait for the D-day to arrive. You want to look like an exciting, beautiful and stunning bride, and why not? A bride is a showstopper that night! Follow healthy tips, suggestions and a wedding nutrition plan to look and feel radiant on your big day!
The planning and the wedding-blues!
Although this is the happiest phase of your life, wedding planning takes a toll on family members and the bride-to-be.
Let’s not deny it! Planning your dream wedding is hard work and the months leading up to the big day can create a whirlwind of tasks such as shopping, salon visits, family gatherings, preparations, dress and dance rehearsals, invitations and the list goes on.
In the midst of it all, healthy eating takes a back seat with all the guests at home and action-packed days like this. It is best for the bride-to-be to maintain an easy, simple and sustainable diet plan with all the chaotic and hectic days.
Crash-diet? A big NO!
Many brides-to-be crash diets for quick results to match their wedding ensemble perfectly. A pre-wedding diet is not a crash diet. This is not healthy and you are prone to regain the lost weight in no time. Also, the motivation behind this should be to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you enter the most beautiful and exciting phase of womanhood.
The seven non-negotiable tips for a bride-to-be:
- Finish your dinner every day before 7.30pm.
- Exercise every day for at least 45 minutes. Include a brisk 30-minute walk in your daily routine.
- Mini Meal Policy—Eat small meals every 3 hours.
- Cheat meals are allowed, now and then, until the third month, but NO cheat meals a month before the wedding day.
- Aim for 8-10 glasses of water each day.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Stay happy!
Here are some suggestions for an easy-to-maintain pre-wedding diet:
1 Stay Hydrated—“Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate”
We all know the simple mantra. Drink at least two to three liters of water every day. It is best to carry a sipper or bottle of water with you and keep it close at all times. Why not add a bride-to-be tag in your water bottle for that extra motivation!
You can also drink unsweetened lemon water, coconut water, fruits with more water content, vegetable juice to keep your body hydrated at all times.
The good thing about keeping your body hydrated is that it helps flush out all the toxins from the body, which gives you flawless skin, beautiful nails, shiny hair and also helps in weight loss.
2 A full colorful plate of food
Carbohydrates should not be avoided. Avoid simple carbohydrates and include complex carbohydrates in your diet like whole wheat, ragi, oats, brown bread, black pasta etc. Add salads, protein and green vegetables to your plate. Include lentils like beans, chickpeas, kala chana etc. Lentils are an excellent source of protein and also have lots of minerals.
3 Avoid “white”
Avoid white flour or maida, white sugar, white rice etc.
4 Include healthy fats
Include healthy fats such as avocados, nuts and seeds in your diet. These nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds have Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are considered the right kind of fat to improve skin and hair health.
5 Don’t forget your greens
Eat antioxidant-packed green leafy vegetables as part of your meal.
6 The raw corner
Include raw vegetables like carrot, cucumber, tomato in salad form. You can eat a salad with your meals or eat them separately. These vegetables are loaded with antioxidants to fight free radical damage.
7 Fruits for glowing bridal skin
Having a piece of fruit first thing in the morning (within 5-10 minutes of waking up) does wonders! One should eat fruits in between meals.
The five foods you should eat before your wedding for glowing skin:
- Beets– The anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins and minerals in beets prevent acne and make your skin glow. A tall glass of beetroot juice every other day is sure to rid your body of toxins and purify the blood.
- Pomegranates– Gives you elastic and baby soft skin.
- almonds– This tiny nut is packed with vitamin E and keeps your skin looking young.
- Tomato– The antioxidant lycopene in tomatoes prevents skin aging and gives it a natural glow. The acidic nature of tomato also helps keep blackheads, pimples and acne at bay.
- Strawberries– Improves skin, reduces skin wrinkles and fine lines.
8 Dining out and the bachelorette party
Going on a pre-wedding diet shouldn’t stop you from having fun. Enjoy those carefree days with “single girl status”. Whether it’s your bachelor party to honor your bachelorhood or hanging out with your friends at your favorite restaurant. you can always monitor your diet.
Plan a healthy menu and don’t forget, a healthy menu doesn’t have to be boring. You and your friends can plan ahead for healthy meals and snacks and dance the night away. Choose healthy food options in the restaurant. For example, an alternative to pizza could be a whole wheat base or choose whole wheat pita with hummus.
9 What should you avoid?
- Stay away from sugary and processed foods
- Avoid trans fats such as cakes, pastries, cookies and canned juices
- Avoid alcohol—It affects your skin and also hinders weight loss
Diet plan before marriage
The earlier you start your pre-wedding diet, the better.
Here is a sample of the Indian pre-wedding diet plan with a variety of options. Portions should be carefully planned according to the individual. At HealthifyMe, we have trained nutritionists who can come up with a pre-wedding diet plan tailored just for you, according to your body requirements and health goals.
Early in the morning: 1 glass of warm water as soon as you wake up.
Morning: 4-5 soaked almonds/one banana/lemon ginger water/water infused with a pinch of cinnamon/jeera water/green tea.
Breakfast: Choose any of Idli sambhar/oats with added vegetables/egg white omelette with a glass of orange juice/poha/upma/whole wheat toast with egg whites/oat cheela/papaya or banana smoothie or spinach/boiled eggs.
Snack: Salad of your choice—chickpea/peanut/greens salads. You can add onions, tomatoes, cucumber and a dash of chat masala or simply a dressing of lemon juice, pink salt and pepper powder. Flavored yogurt/lettuce salad/fruit salad/2 boiled eggs/vegetable salad.
Lunch: Roti or rice, Dal leafy vegetable (palak, dill leaves, moringa leaves, methi etc), sabzi, curd. Dahi rice or congealed rice is your best bet when you have an evening party to attend.
Snack: Fruit salad / handful of nuts and seeds / grilled makhanas for a snack / a glass of buttermilk / peanut salad or hummus with vegetable croutons.
Dinner (Strictly before 7.30 PM): For dinner, you can have grilled or broiled chicken/methi roti with dal and sabzi/Oven chicken with salad/Sauteed vegetables with or without chicken/a bowl of dal with sabji and vegetable salad/Multigrain atta rotis with sabji and dal.
Consistency is always the key to a successful diet plan. It’s all about making healthy food choices. A well-balanced diet plan is always the best bet for reducing weight variability. A well-balanced diet and regular exercise will also help you maintain your weight even after marriage.
Above all, stay happy. Smile often and don’t stress. Weddings are stressful with all the planning and last minute chores. You will definitely look back and laugh at these chaotic, anxious and yet fun-filled days. It is recommended that you join a health center or a gym. If going out to work out is the last thing on your mind, hire an online personal fitness trainer along with a nutritionist or registered dietitian who can help you get in shape from the comfort of your own home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What should I eat before my wedding?
Eat balanced meals with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Drink lots of water. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water.
Q. What foods burn belly fat?
Fruits like avocados, bananas and berries, yogurt, green tea, citrus fruits are foods along with regular exercise that help reduce the stubborn fat you want to get rid of.
Q. How can I lose weight before my wedding?
Eat smaller portions at regular intervals, avoid empty calories in your diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. choose low-fat milk and low-fat lean meat.
Q. What food makes your face glow?
In addition to the five foods (almonds, tomatoes, strawberries, beets, pomegranates) mentioned above in the article, walnuts, sunflower seeds, red or yellow peppers, and fatty fish (salmon and herring) will definitely give you that glow.
Q. What foods should a bride-to-be avoid?
Stay away from sugary and processed foods. Avoid trans fats such as cakes, pastries, cookies and canned juices. Avoid alcohol—It affects your skin and also hinders weight loss.
