Celebrating Tet in a 'themed' way.

Hanoi – Tired of the 14-dish feast, 41-year-old Ms. Tam decided to celebrate Tet in a "thematic" way, meaning she would only cook one dish per meal, such as vermicelli, pho, or spring rolls.

Previously, the woman spent most of the five days of Tet (Lunar New Year) cooking and cleaning, which she found "extremely tedious." Furthermore, because both she and her husband are at risk of metabolic disorders, she changed her eating habits last Tet, preparing a different dish each day, following a specific theme.

From the 28th of the lunar month to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, Ms. Tam plans the menu for each day, for example, one day fried spring rolls, another day hot pot, then vermicelli with grilled pork, vermicelli with crab, pho... Everything is prepared early in the morning and eaten on the same day, alongside white rice or sticky rice cakes, which are two fixed dishes. For each dish, she tries to add more vegetables and fruits to ensure a more complete nutritional intake.

According to the woman, this cooking method saves time and effort, and limits calorie intake. "For example, if I'm having spring rolls, I wrap them in large quantities the morning or evening before so I can eat them all day. Or for mixed hot pot, I only need to prepare a pot of broth, meat, and vegetables," she said, adding that thanks to this way of eating, her family has more time to enjoy the spring festivities and reduces stress.

Similarly, the family of Mr. Nhat, 36, in Cau Giay district, has been applying this method for the past three years. His parents suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, while his two young children are obese (grade 2). Therefore, the family agreed to celebrate Tet in a "minimalist" style, consuming only one dish each day: vermicelli, pho, hot pot, or spring rolls.

"Celebrating Tet this way limits carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, ensuring good health while also leaving more time for festivities," said Mr. Nhat, adding that preparing offerings is simple and not elaborate, "what matters is the sincerity from the heart."

Everyday dishes like bun cha, pho, and nem (spring rolls) can absolutely be eaten during Tet and served to guests; it doesn't necessarily have to be a lavish feast. Photo: Kim Oanh

According to Dr. Dang Ngoc Hung from the Institute for Nutrition Research and Consulting, this way of eating is basically the same as cooking meals as usual, and is encouraged.

In reality, Vietnamese tradition dictates a lavish feast during Tet (Lunar New Year) with many dishes rich in protein, fat, salt, and sugar. Sticky rice cakes (banh chung), glutinous rice (xoi), jellied meat, pork sausage (gio cha), braised pork, and Tet sweets and preserves... combined with various alcoholic beverages like beer and wine, as well as soft drinks and carbonated beverages, create a nutritionally unbalanced menu.

"Consuming these foods over a long period not only puts pressure on the digestive system but also affects health, weight, and physique, and is especially dangerous for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease," the doctor said.

Varying the menu daily also helps prevent boredom and makes meals more enjoyable. Homemakers also don't have to rush around in the kitchen preparing meals; instead, they have more time to relax and spend time with family, leading to a happier mood.

However, Mr. Hung believes that if each meal consists of only one dish cooked in large quantities, or if one dish is consumed throughout the day, it will be difficult to ensure food diversity and sufficient energy intake. Therefore, each family should calculate the calorie content of each ingredient and the necessary nutrients in the food to create a balanced diet. For example, each meal should include green vegetables, protein from meat, fish, and eggs, carbohydrates such as rice and sticky rice, and seasonal fruits.

Specifically, carbohydrates should make up 50-60% of the diet, preferably from fruits and vegetables, as well as brown bread, brown rice, potatoes, etc., in the recommended quantities.

Protein from both plant and animal sources should account for approximately 13-20% of total energy intake. It is recommended to "lean slightly towards plant-based protein, rather than completely eliminating animal protein." Fats can be of animal origin (meat fat, fish fat) or of plant origin (oils found in nuts and fruits). For example, if you only eat pho, you should add plenty of vegetables to ensure you get at least one bowl of greens per meal.

"If you eat hot pot with lots of vegetables and meat, you can supplement your carbohydrate intake with corn or potatoes to maintain balance," advises Dr. Hung.

Other healthy eating habits include eating regular meals, limiting sweets, sugary drinks, and especially alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts health, compromises safety while driving, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, gout, hypertension, and diabetes.

Thuy Quynh

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