Pre-Wedding Diet- A Nutritionist's Guide on How to Prep for the Big Day

If you are gearing up for your winter wedding, it is time to channelize your natural glow with some quintessential diet tweaks. The Bride-to-be! Finally, the day of the glow and glam every girl dreamt of, is just nearby. A lot of is yet to do, shopping, b

How do I look slim? How do I fit into my lehenga? How do get my skin glowing and hair shiny? Many clients come to me for pre wedding packages but honestly there aren’t any. It is pretty overwhelming because you wish to look your best on your day.

A few essential things brides seek before the wedding are clear skin, a healthy body, an attractive figure, and luscious hair. But several times, the never-ending to-do list can take a toll on your wellness.

Which pre-wedding diet mistakes should they avoid to prevent sudden weight fluctuations or fatigue?
The months before the big day may call for a whirlpool of tasks like shopping, salon visits, family get-togethers, preparations, dress and dance rehearsals, invitations, and the list goes on.Amidst all this, healthy eating takes a back seat with all the visitors at home and such actionpacked days. The bride-to-be should maintain an easy, simple and sustainable diet plan with all the chaotic and hectic days.

Many women and men resort to extreme dieting and juice/ cleanse/ detox diets which can negatively affect their health overall. Don’t drop food groups entirely like very low carbs, no fat diets.

Is there any healthy meal or a drink that you can share that soon to be married could have during pre wedding time frame?
• Start the nutrition plan 3 months before the wedding. The earlier, the better. Sharing a few pointers to keep in mind.
• Don’t diet, instead nourish your body
• Finish your dinner every day before 7.30 pm.
• Exercise every day for at least 45 minutes. Include a 30-minute brisk walk in your daily schedule.
• Don’t skip carbohydrates, instead opt for complex carbs like oats, buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice.
• Add colourful salads with a dash of lemon (vitamin C for skin glow) • Mini-meal policy—Eat small meals every 3 hours.
• Avoid packaged foods entirely (Helps keep the gut, skin and weight in place)
• Avoid white sugar.
• Go for smaller meals throughout the day
• Avoid late night snacking or stress eating.
• Have seasonal fruits, snack on fruits and nuts.
• You are allowed cheat meals, now and then, till the third month, but NO cheat meals one month before the wedding day.
• Add healthy fats ( Vit E & omega 3 fatty acids from nuts & seeds on daily basis)
• Hydrate! Hydrate! Keep a target of 10-12 glasses of water every day.
• Add 3-4 cups of herbal teas or 2-3 glasses of lemon water
• Avoid alcohol • Take supplements if necessary
• Stay active (Hit the gym, do a combination of endurance and strength training as it increases blood flow to your skin for that healthy glow)
• Stay happy! (This is the secret of that pinkish healthy glow!!)

What foods should they prioritize to improve skin radiance and combat inflammation before the big day?
• Beetroot, apples, and pomegranates are a rich source of iron and give a rosy glow to our skin
• ABC (Apple, beetroot & Carrot juice with lemon) helps improve the skin texture and gives you a healthy glow. A potent juice for beauty that shines from within.
• Drink enough water. Make sure to consume adequate amount of water every day to get healthy and glowing skin as it helps flush out toxins and gives you a clear skin.
• A good sleep schedule helps produce collagen, increases blood flow,keeps the skin plump, and reduces inflammation. Nap whenever possible. Beauty sleep is a real thing!!
• Take your vitamin E, omega 3, vitamin D to reduce any skin inflammation and puffiness.
• Say no to alcohol and smoking
• Avoid junk food and sugar
• Consume lemon water / detox infused water daily. 

DIY detox water for skin 
To 1 litre water add watermelon, lemon, cucumber, mint leaves and chia seeds. You can add coconut water too.

Are there any specific foods or supplements that help reduce bloating naturally in the final days before the wedding?
•Drink 3 L water daily
•Ginger water (soothes digestive distress)
•Saunf, ajwain, jeera water (These spices have powerful properties that can help reduce bloating, relieve gas, and improve overall digestion)
•Peppermint Tea (widely used to relieve gas and bloating)
•Avoid raw salads for dinner if you tend to bloat
•Eat a wholesome diet with good amount of fibre, fruits, complex carbohydrates to avoid constipation and a clean gut. Clean gut = clear skin

By Ms. SONAL TALEGAONKAR, Sonal’s Nutrofit Clinical Nutritionist (Post-graduation in Clinical Nutrition, Mumbai University, India). Find us on Instagram & Facebook (sonalsnutrofit)