Happy New Year Friends! I hope you all had wonderful holidays! Vasiliy and I just came back from our vacation in Europe. So I am just about to start working on my goals, NY resolutions and all that good stuff… And I know that after all the delicious dining and wining in France and Germany going back to healthier eating is going to be at the top of my list. I have been saving this article for a while now, waiting for a good moment to publish it. I think it’s the perfect topic for the first blog of the year, right?! 🙂

“Wedding diet”

How many times have you uttered the words “wedding diet” since getting that ring on your left hand? It is natural to freak out a little when you start to thinking about all the things that come with your wedding day: fitting into the perfect dress, having glowing skin, having a camera and everyone’s eyes directed at you….Good news! While I don’t have a magic wand to make all those stressors go away, I do have some tried and true tips to help you look and feel your best!

Eat the Rainbow

And I’m not talking about Skittles….When it all comes down to it, there is no such thing as a wedding diet., but whether you are engaged or not, most ladies want some of the same things: no bloating, beautiful skin and maybe to drop a few pounds. One of the most often overlooked areas of your diet is eating plenty of color. The more color your food has, the more vitamins and minerals you are consuming, so up those servings of veggies and enjoy that piece of fruit. Eating high carotenoid foods have shown to improve the appearance of your skin, so add some carrots to that salad and don’t skimp on the tomato!

Omega-3s = Mega Benefits

Omega-3’s are great for just about everything, from your skin to your overall health. They are also really easy to incorporate into your diet. Omega-3’s are typically found in flax seed, chia seed, and walnuts. They help keep your gut regular while alleviating bloat. An added  bonus of eating more flax is that it can keep you satiated, and help you from overeating. Try adding flax or chia seed to your morning yogurt to keep you feeling full longer into your day.

Fats to Satisfy & Proteins to Satiate

Fat was a bad word for so long in your diet vocabulary that it can be hard to accept it back in, especially when you thinking of how you’re going to fit into your dream dress! The truth is, healthy fats can help you achieve that goal. Adding nuts, seeds and avocado will help you feel satisfied with your meal and adding in lean proteins will keep you satiated longer. In fact, if you want to add a little muscle definition before the big day, lots of lean protein (think fish and chicken) will help you tone and define your muscles as you workout out.

Losing a Few Extra Pounds

If you are hoping to drop a few pounds before the wedding, eliminating refined carbs at dinner is a good start. White rice, potatoes and bread can spike your sugars which will convert to fat if you don’t burn it off. Eating lots of vegetables (which are packed with water and fiber to make you feel full longer) and increasing your protein for your last meal of the day will help keep your blood sugars level and help increase your metabolism.

Take Care of Your Gut

Gut health has been a popular topic lately and for good reason! So much of the body’s immunity comes from a healthy gut. Cutting out or reducing inflammatory foods (such as dairy) and increasing food that are natural diuretics (like asparagus!) can reduce bloating, discomfort, and fro some people, acne from hormones. Try adding in a good probiotic to help keep your gut operating at an optimal rate. As a bonus, a healthy gut usually leads to better sleep and less stress! We can all agree that those are much needed as the wedding day approaches!

 

I love to cook, but I am no expert! Much of what I make can be found in the Cooking Light magazine as I like simple, healthy recipes, especially during my busy wedding season!

I will share few of my favorite recipes in the next posts soon!

 

Love, Julia