On 22 Oct, 2022 Seniors Today hosted their weekly Health Live Webinar. This week we had with us Dr Eileen Canday.. Keeping in mind the gallore of sweets and festivities coming our way in the coming week, Dr Canday spoke on Keeping Diet in check given Festive Feasting and how to keep your diet in check.
About Dr Eileen Canday:
Dr Eileen Canday is Head of the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre. She specialises in several areas such as Critical care, Oncology, Renal Nutrition, Bariatric nutrition, Weight loss and Nutrigenetic. Dr Canday is Diabetes Educator having completed professional qualifications from International Diabetes Federation and is a member of the Association of Diabetes Educators.
Dr Canday has successfully completed a Pediatric Onco Nutritionist- fellowship from Tata Memorial Hospital (SIOP) and is a trained Oncology Nutrition Specialist. She has over the years worked with a large number of patients in remission and undergoing treatment to help them with better nutritional and health outcomes. She is the Joint Secretary of The Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) Mumbai Chapter, which is a part of the International Confederation of Dietetics (ICD). She is also on the National Board of Registered Dieticians (RD). She is Hon. Jt. Secretary to the IAPEN (Indian Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) Mumbai Chapter. IAPEN is the additional link to the already existing chain consisting of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), European (ESPEN, BAPEN), Australian (AusPEN), Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Asia (PENSA) and South African (SASPEN) societies.
She is an avid researcher and has published several national and international scientific publications. Along with this she a peer reviewer for UGC recognized research National and international journals. She is on the BOS (Board of Studies) of various Autonomous educational institutes. She has a keen interest in nutrition writing and has authored chapters in books and Nutrition Manuals. She is a good orator and delivers lectures and has given television and newspaper interviews on topics related to nutrition
Dr. Canday has been a faculty speaker at a number of National and International level platforms and conferences for professional groups of doctors, dieticians, students etc. like the IFSCO (International Federation for the surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders), COREP , IAOH, Reliance life Sciences and has over the years presented a number of research papers and posters.
o Diwali is a major festival celebrated over five days. It is not just the festival of lights but also a time for feasting with family and enjoying plenty of sweet treats.
o The festive season involves a lot of consumption of sweet and additional calories. You spend time with your close friends and family and that commonly involves consuming excessive amounts of processed, fried and high sugar containing foods, alcoholic and sugary beverages. This in turn can lead us to consume extra calories and impact our health goals
o In the recent times Dr Canday often asks her clients the kind of daily food they consume, and to clients who indulge in sweet and savoury foods on a weekly or daily basis, to them Dr Canday urges that instead of having them so regularly, they should save such indulgences for the festivities.
o The food items that are made in the Indian household during the festivals is high in fats and carbohydrates. The combination of fat and carbohydrates is a dangerous one and can result in fatty liver, diabetes, etc
Festive eating for Diabetics:
- While making sweets at home try using an alternative method of sweetening other than sugar. It is very common and easy to use sugar-free sweetener instead of sugar. Sweeteners like sucralose and stevia can be safely used
- Some diabetic friendly sweet treats options like kheer, nut ladoos, phirnee can be consumed
- Diabetics should snack on nuts, vegetable sticks with dips, protein rich foods like paneer cubes, curd, milkshakes, etc to maintain stable glucose levels
Tips for healthy eating during festivities:
- Avoid going for visits on an empty stomach, try to have a healthy snack at home before you leave for a party. This can prevent overeating or over-indulging on festive treats.
- Eat wisely- Start your meal with fibrous foods like salads and soups which will increase satiety and limit the consumption of sugary and fried food items.
- Practice mindful eating. Eat slowly and practice mindful eating- studies suggest that eating slowly and mindfully provide adequate time for the body to send the hormonal signal to our brain to indicate fullness.
- Keep yourself hydrated. Many a times we confuse hunger with thirst and land up in consuming excessive calories.
- Avoid skipping meals especially on the day of celebration and snack on nuts, seeds, fruits and roasted snacks like millet puffs in between main meals. This will keep your blood glucose levels stable and prevent cravings and overeating during the celebration.
- When eating outside, it is advisable to check the menu of the restaurant well in advance and choose healthy food options. Many restaurants provide and offer nutritional information online.
- Include protein rich foods in every meal to promote satiety and weight maintenance. Protein rich sources include dairy, lentils, pulses, eggs, lean meats like chicken and fish.
- Opt for sweets dishes made with low fat milk like shrikhand, phirni, kheer, mishti doi flavoured with elaichi, kesar for the sweet preparations.
- Opt for a tandoori platters, these Include baby corn, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, low fat paneer and chicken.
- Sweeten the sweet dishes with dates, figs or sugar free like stevia instead of sugar
- Use cooking methods like baking, steaming, or grilling instead of frying.
