The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar calendar. In the traditional Chinese culture, a full moon symbolises completeness and is associated with a family reunion. It is also a popular time for a family gathering for traditional activities such as “moon viewing”(shangyue) and eating mooncakes.
Traditional mooncakes filling includes red bean paste, and lotus paste and stuffed with salted duck egg yolk. The ingredients usually consist of sugar and oil. The thin crust of the mooncake is made with flour, vegetable oil, and sugar. Therefore, eating too many mooncakes may indeed increase a big impact on the waistline.
Mooncakes should be consumed in moderation, especially for those with health concerns. For those who practice a reasonable diet daily, eating mooncakes in moderation only during the Mid-Autumn Festival, will not cause harmful effects. Tips to enjoy and choose wisely for the mooncake festival.
1. Share your mooncakes, share your calories
A traditional full-size mooncake varies from 700 – 900 kcal. It is better to take mooncakes as an add-on to your meal at noon or afternoon rather than being the main course. Slice the mooncake into smaller sizes evenly and eat only 1-2 slices at a time. Also, share your mooncake with the people around you!
2. Eat slowly
To eat slowly, you need to chew your mooncake slowly and thoroughly before swallowing. This can help you to digest easily, reduce calorie intake, and aids in weight management.
3. Pair your mooncakes with drinks
Given the nature of the filling, mooncakes can be dense. Pairing with plain water, unsweetened drinks can balance out the sweetness in the mouth and improve digestion. If you are looking for a little buzz, you may pair mooncake with EnVita Vigor Plus which is made up of high purity of curcumin extract, sugar-free and great taste with erythritol! The unique formulation with dietary fibre also promotes bowel movement and accelerates metabolism.
4. Squeeze in a little exercise
The most efficient way to not get fat during Mid-Autumn Festival is to eat less for the rest of the day and be physically active. It is good to walk around and appreciate the full moon with your loved one after eating mooncakes.
