What Constitutes a Healthy Dinner?

A very common question which arises in every health conscience person’s mind is how late is too late for dinner? Does it really affect your health if you eat late?

The answer given by most dieticians and doctors is: There is no cut-off time of dinner. An early dinner proposition is designed to cut down on late-night snacking. Eating dinner late does pose problems: If there's a lot of time between lunch and dinner we might find ourselves snacking too much or tending to overeat at supper. Doctor’s generally encourage people to eat the majority of their calories when they are the most active.

Since for majority of us that time is morning, it is advised to have big meals during the day as breakfast or lunch and check the food intake during night. Overnight during sleep, calories (mostly complex carbohydrates) are burned slowly. So if you act as a glutton at night and cuddle under your quilt, it would just add those extra inches which we all hate.

Eating anything in moderation isn’t bad; nonetheless you should avoid heavy starches at night. Also try to restrain your sweet tooth to compel you to pound on sweets which are nothing but loads of fats. Instead target on plenty of fruits and vegetables as fruits are rich in fiber which are easily digestible by the body and vegetables provide the other necessary nutrients. Vegetables are most effective if they are steamed or had raw as salad.

Another healthy option to have vegetables is in the form of soups. Curd and cereals are also healthy options to consider. Frying should be avoided as much as possible but if it has to be done, it should preferably be done in refined sunflower, olive or groundnut oil. And then there is nothing as healthy as water. You should drink plenty of water (but not with a meal or immediately after a meal) throughout the day. Doctors recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water as a very healthy habit.

Nothing is as important as health. It is rightfully said that health is wealth. Only if you are healthy will your brain function in a productive way and help you achieve your dreams. It just requires a little discipline in your eating habits to help you feel enthusiastic and energetic throughout the day. Health and happiness always go hand in hand and one can never follow the other.