Delicious Tet dishes to enjoy: things to keep in mind.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - During the Lunar New Year holidays, participating in gatherings and parties with many attractive traditional dishes makes it difficult for people with chronic diseases to "resolutely" maintain their usual eating habits.

According to Dr. Luu Ngan Tam, Head of the Nutrition Department at Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), for people with chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease, or chronic kidney disease, nutritional balance in their diet plays a very important role.

Specifically, balanced nutrition helps patients improve their health and avoid potential complications.

However, during the Lunar New Year holidays, participating in gatherings and parties with many tempting traditional dishes makes it difficult for patients to "resolutely" maintain their usual eating habits.

Tet holiday is a time when parties and gatherings frequently take place (Illustrative photo: Hoang Le).

Moderate consumption of "classic" Tet dishes.

According to Dr. Tam, during the traditional Lunar New Year, the dishes are essentially not much different from those eaten on ordinary days. However, from a nutritional perspective, for people with specific underlying medical conditions who are advised by their doctors to eat bland food and avoid salty foods, certain dishes need to be carefully considered.

For example, pickled vegetables like cucumbers and cabbage have a very high salt content. Patients can still eat them, but only in moderation, perhaps as a way to add a touch of flavor and celebrate the festive atmosphere of Tet.

With sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng and bánh tét), some people prefer them less salty, while others prefer them quite salty. Those with cardiovascular disease or chronic illnesses should eat them in moderation to avoid excessive weight gain, as the fillings of bánh tét and bánh chưng often contain a lot of fatty meat.

"This year's Lunar New Year holiday lasts 9 days. If we eat continuously, it will affect our fat metabolism, blood pressure, or lead to unwanted weight gain, which will also impact our health," Dr. Tam explained.

For people with diabetes, doctors advise controlling carbohydrate intake (especially glutinous rice, as it contains more starch than regular rice), as it can cause blood sugar levels to rise. Diabetic patients should also avoid foods and drinks with high sugar content.

People with diabetes must control their carbohydrate intake during Tet (Lunar New Year) (Illustrative image: Hoang Le).

Similarly, dishes like pork sausage and ham contain a significant amount of salt, so patients should only eat them in moderation. For braised pork, only eat the lean parts, and you can have one or two eggs as an accompaniment…

In particular, patients need to take their medication regularly and not skip meals. For example, a person with diabetes who takes their blood sugar-lowering medication regularly but skips meals is still at risk of hypoglycemia, leading to dangerous health consequences.

Pay attention to food storage times and eat plenty of green vegetables.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, people with chronic illnesses who have to travel a lot should bring along appropriate supplements for their condition, such as: milk for cardiovascular patients; milk and biscuits for diabetic patients; or cooked food packed in containers.

However, according to nutritionists, if stored at room temperature, food should not be kept for more than 2 hours, as it spoils easily and could inadvertently cause food poisoning in patients.

Nutritionally controlled meals for patients at Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: Hospital).

Another case is when patients visit relatives and friends to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year), they must also control their nutrition as usual, eating in moderation and prioritizing fresh vegetables.

"People with diabetes should eat vegetables first, then eat sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng, bánh tét) or other dishes high in cholesterol... Focusing on eating plenty of fresh vegetables will reduce the risk of metabolic disorders during Tet," advised Dr. Luu Ngan Tam.

Doctors recommend eating green vegetables before protein and carbohydrates (Illustrative image: Tú Anh).

The doctor concluded that people with chronic illnesses shouldn't stress too much about food during Tet (Lunar New Year). However, as mentioned, dishes should be consumed in moderation, and cooking methods should be adjusted to ensure patients have a complete and happy spring season with their families.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nhung-mon-an-hap-dan-ngay-tet-can-luu-y-khi-thuong-thuc-20250125113843542.htm