A Hospital Authority (HA) dietician told people to avoid festive fat traps and overeating during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Registered dietitian Ivy Chua from the HA said people can order healthier dishes when they are having their reunion dinner at restaurants.

“If you really want to eat out, try to control the portion and the food choices you are having. For example, you can choose some better quality protein, something like steamed fish is a really lower fat protein source,” she said.

People can get rid of chicken skin, and avoid eating sauces to have a healthier diet, she added.

Chua also said people could select high-fibre food, like vegetables, so as to eat less meat.

To avoid overeating before the main reunion dinner, Chua said people could have high-fibre snacks before the big meal.

She also reminded citizens, especially diabetes patients and people who have high blood pressure and high blood lipids, not to have too many Chinese New Year cakes and deep-fried traditional snacks as they contain a lot of oil, salt and sugar.

“There is a lot of food that is really high in calories, especially in fat and sugar. I'd recommend everyone to try limit their portion of the food, especially the traditional snacks, and actually they can find some healthier snacks to replace it,” Chua said.

Chua suggested that people can make healthier snacks at home such as rice crackers, low calorie jelly with fruits, or plain popcorn with a little bit salt.