Turn your Chinese New Year wish for good health into a reality.
To help you achieve this goal, the Consumer Council has produced a timely report for your guidance.
Traditional New Year treats and presents are as yummy as they tend to be high in sugars, sodium or fat.
So start your New Year resolution with your choice of these goodies that is consistent with healthy eating habit and dieting principles:
- For New Year presents, choose foods that are healthier, e.g. fresh fruits, tea leaves, dried mushroom and dried noodles (without frying). There is a wide range of fruits with auspicious connotation, with variation in nutrient contents. It is always a good idea to make your own fruit hamper, without excessive packing materials.
- Melon seeds and nuts such as cashews, walnuts and pistachios are popular items in the assorted snack box（全盒）. Some nuts and seeds are relatively high in unsaturated fats, which will raise your total fat intake. Some are also added with lots of salt or sugars. They should, therefore, be consumed only in moderation; items that are not deep-fried or salt-baked are preferable.
- Consider alternatives that are lower in sugars and healthier, e.g. unsweetened dried fruits, natural nuts, rice crackers which are low in sugars and sodium.
- Some New Year puddings, e.g. water chestnut pudding and sweet cake（年糕）are often loaded heavily with sugar; turnip pudding and taro pudding are usually made with high-fat ingredients, such as Chinese sausages, preserved meat and peanuts, which greatly increase the calories content. Therefore, these items should only be taken as snacks in moderation.
- Consider using healthier ingredients, e.g. lean pork, dried shrimp, carrots, dried mushroom, dried scallop and wooden ear fungus, when making New Year puddings such as turnip or taro pudding. To avoid excessive sugars intake, reduce the sugars contents when making water chestnut pudding and sweet cake.
- Adopt healthier cooking habits, e.g. steaming instead of frying. Consume more vegetables, mushrooms, and beans, and less food that is high in fat and cholesterol, e.g. pork belly, poultry skin, trotters.
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