It’s that time of the year again – when there seem to be tasty treats everywhere, and you feel your steely resolve start to falter (so much for that new year’s resolution to stick to your diet eh?). Read on to find out our pick of Chinese New Year snacks that won’t throw you off your diet.
Tangerines
Drop that piece of kueh lapis now, and pick up a tangerine instead. At 37 calories per tangerine, this snack will keep your sugar cravings in check without busting your daily calorie budget. And by the way, did we mention that there are 157 calories in just one slice of kueh lapis?
Gua Zi (Dried Melon Seeds)
I know what you’re thinking – dried seeds are in no way a legit replacement for peanuts or prawn crackers, but trust us, your waistline will thank you. Snack on a handful of gua zi instead of peanuts, and you’ll shave off dozens of calories. 100g of gua zi only contains 258 calories, as compared to peanuts, which contain 567 calories per 100g.
Love Letters
At 56 calories per piece, love letters aren’t exactly the most healthy snack around. However, if you have to snack on something, love letters would be a better option than pineapple tarts, which will set you back about 82 calories per piece. Besides, love letters are more fun to eat because you can pretend to smoke one like a cigar. What’s that? You don’t do that? Oh. Awkward.
Shrimp Rolls
Shrimp rolls are by no means a healthy snack, but they do pack less calories per piece than some of the other Chinese New Year treats out there. Instead of going for that slice of bak kwa, which packs a whopping 370 calories per slice, go for a handful (and by handful, we mean 5-6 pieces, not 30) of shrimp rolls instead. They may be 23 calories per roll, but they take longer to eat and will satisfy your craving for a salty treat.
Tips to Stick to Your Diet
1. Use a smaller plate at Reunion Dinner
2. Drink a glass of water (or two) before lunch or dinner
3. Sit far, far away from the snack table/tray
4. Place a limited portion of a snack onto a separate plate and eat from there instead
5. Share a bigger snack (i.e kueh lapis) with someone else
If all else fails, try following some of these Quirky Diet Tips.
