The Wedding Diet

I’m an absolute foodie and therefore I need to cover this very important topic. Actually, it’s so important that it deserves more than one blog post! 

We all know the quote: “You are what you eat.” Well, this is especially true when you are getting ready for your big day.  It’s just five months away from my wedding and I have the following major concerns: 

I definitely don’t want to be bloated on that day!
My skin needs to be glowing.
I need above average energy.
I want to tone and show off my muscles.
If I can drop a few kilograms, what’s not to love about that! 

I’m sure I’m not the only bride-to-be with this obsession.  All the stress, sleepless nights and hard work of wedding planning can really catch up to you if you don’t attend to your health. 

The following tips are the
“Golden Rules to a Wedding Diet.”

For glowing skin:  Kimberly Snyde,  nutritionist and NY Times bestselling author, suggests that we enjoy liberal amounts of red bell peppers, cucumbers, Greek yoghurt, spinach and sweet potatoes for glowing skin.  All of these foods contain vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients, which clean and nourish your blood and tissues, while contributing to the overall radiance of your skin.  It’s definitely worth it to boost your consumption of tomatoes and carrots as well. According to studies, consuming high carotenoid foods, such as tomatoes and carrots, for six weeks or longer will help to improve the appearance of your skin.

To bust the bloat:  Make sure that you eat enough omega-3 fatty acids. Not only will this help to banish bloating, but it will also contribute to improving the health of your skin. An easy way to do this is to incorporate more flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, salmon, tuna and sardines into your diet.   Fill up on veggies (especially avocado), because they are packed with water and fibre that will help with digestion.  Also include natural diuretic foods, like asparagus and pineapple, and reduce or eliminate dairy intake.  It’s also very important to remember: Don’t eat salt during the week before your big day!

To lose a few pounds:  Don’t consume carbohydrates for dinner. Most carbs rapidly raise your blood glucose levels, and then your pancreas produces insulin to bring these levels down to normal again.  It does this by storing the excess sugar from the carbs as fat. Instead, eat more protein as it will decrease your appetite and help you to eat less.

To reduce stress:  Swop your daily caffeinated drink for tea.  Peppermint tea is well-known for its stress relief benefits.  Eat more avocados and bananas as these fruits are loaded with potassium that helps to keep blood pressure low.  You could also go for a nice run, as this will help your body to release endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in your body and will leave you feeling energised and definitely less stressed.

To avoid: dairy, gluten, refined sugar, alcohol, carbonated beverages and caffeine. These are categorised as “inflammatory foods” and will do damage to your skin and body.  It will make you feel bloated and won’t satisfy your hunger for more than an hour or less.

Let’s end this with healthy motivation by Lauren Taylor:
Get excited!Between wedding planning, a career and a variety of social commitments, it is easy to lose sight of the excitement surrounding your big day.Make a point every day to imagine yourself wearing that perfect gown and visualize the benefits of reaching your goals.Find inspiration from visualizing that special moment when you walk down the aisle and keep up that positive attitude!

Marli Nel