Lose some weight, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet; these are just some of the resolutions we make every year. Dr. Anita Das Gupta, clinical dietitian at Burjeel Hospital reveals tips for a healthy 2018. 

Organize your meals: Organizing your daily meals is paramount for maintaining an ideal weight. It is advised that you eat controlled quantities in all the three main meals. Skipping one meal will make you feel more ravenous and may trigger you to eat a larger portion in the next meal.  

Balance: The easiest way to maintain an ideal weight is to balance the calories we consume with our workout. Balancing calories means following a healthy diet that includes all the food groups, making sure it is varied to avoid losing interest, and also providing your body with key vitamins and minerals. 

Start light: Begin the day with a glass of water, warm water with lemon and honey is ideal. Breakfast should include scrambled eggs with a piece of wholegrain toast, oatmeal with nuts and a spoonful of flaxseeds, or muesli with yoghurt and berries. Lunch should include grilled, steamed, roasted, or sautéed dishes.  Dinner should begin with a light soup and should always have a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and good fats. 

Snacks: Eating a snack between your main meals can prevent you from overeating in the next meal. Examples of snacks are fresh or dried fruits, vegetable slices, such as carrots or cucumbers, raw nuts (unsalted – a handful) or milk (low-fat), and some dairy products or a dark chocolate (30 grams) which is the amount allowed per person per day.  

Eat the healthy options first: Starting your meal with a bowl of clear broth or green salad will make you fuller by the time you progress to the stuffed turkey and mashed potatoes. 

Plan wisely: When organizing a party, opt for healthy substitutions: instead of the usual mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes grilled with a drizzle of olive oil is a healthier option. Rather than a deep fried chicken breast slathered in mushroom cream, grilled chicken with a side dish of fresh  vegetable  salad is a better choice. 

Get outside: Avoid being a couch potato after a heavy meal. Instead, put on your running shoes and head to the park with a friend. Play a game of badminton or just take a walk.