The Best and Worst Foods to Eat on Your Wedding Day
By Kati Mora, MS, RD
The last thing you probably want to think about on your wedding day is the food you can and cannot eat. But you might be interested in knowing that what you munch on can make a big difference in how you feel on the big day. Here, the best and worst foods to nosh on before and after saying "I do."
Related: 10 Sanity Savers to Be a Better Bridesmaid
The Secret Superfood: Asparagus
It might not be the first food that comes to mind when planning your menu, but according to Lauren O'Connor, MS, RD, munching on some stalks throughout the day has some big perks. O'Connor says asparagus has diuretic-like properties that can help fight bloating, along with keeping you fuller longer due to the high fiber content. And when you're trying to look good in a custom-fit wedding dress, these two things are kind of a big deal.
For On-the-Go Grazing: Homemade Trail Mix
Your wedding day will be the happiest day of your life and also the longest. It's important to have a stash of snacks on hand to prevent mindless munching until your next meal. Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RD, and Kathleen Siegel, RD, CDN, of NutritionBabes.com suggest creating your own trail mix with dried fruit, almonds, walnuts, and seeds to keep your hunger in check no matter how hectic the day gets. No time to DIY? Fresh fruit is another option to fill you up fast.
Related: 30 Low-Calorie Snacks
A Perfect Prepper: Avocado
Add a few slices of avocado to your lunches and dinners before your big day, suggests O'Connor. They give your body vitamins C and E, antioxidants that protect cells from free-radical damage and promote the growth and repair of tissue. The result? Glowing skin and shiny hair for your walk down the aisle.
Safe Sip: Herbal Tea
With all the hustle and bustle going on, it's easy to forget about drinking enough water throughout the day. But skipping out will leave you feeling less energized, not to mention parched as you read your vows! If you can't commit to regularly filling up or are sick of H2O, Harris-Pincus and Siegel suggest herbal tea. The brew will keep you hydrated and calm those pre-ceremony jitters.
Breath Offender: Coffee
Whether you're kissing the groom or yelling into your great-grandma's ear, there is one thing every bride can live without: bad breath. It's not the coffee itself that causes oral odor, it's the dehydrating effect once you drink it, especially if it's been mixed with milk, creamer, or sugar. To avoid this wedding faux pas skip the calorie-laden latte and keep your cup of joe black if you really need it. After you finish, swipe a slice of lemon over your top and bottom teeth to avoid stains and keep your pearly whites photo-op ready.
Toothy Troubles: Berries
Though fruit is a great safe snack for your waist, the opposite might be true for your face. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are likely to not only stain your dress, but leave seeds behind in your teeth as well. Choose fruits that are pale in color like cut up apples and bananas to avoid a seedy smile.
Big Bloater: Dinner Rolls
Sodium is one nutrient you can spare on your wedding day. Eat too much of it and you'll start to retain water, feeling bloated and less comfortable in your dress. Even though one slice of bread only contains 140 mg of sodium, that number can add up quickly, warns O'Connor. Instead, fill up on water-rich vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and fresh fruit to stay satisfied. Then hit the dance floor and show off your svelte self!
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