Here’s what brides-to-be should eat for physical and emotional well-being amid wedding chaos

A wedding day is special for everyone involved in the celebration, but it’s just a tad bit more special for the bride-to-be. Just as Monica Geller says in Friends, “We dreamed about the perfect wedding. In the perfect place. With the perfect four-tiered wedding cake. With the little people on top. But the most important part is that we had the perfect guy who understood just how important all that other stuff was.” Planning a wedding can be hard and super hectic—from picking out the perfect outfit to planning the nitty-gritties of the décor, and the dream-like bridal entrance. 

Amid the frenzy of planning the fairy-tale wedding, it’s important to take care of your physical and emotional well-being. While there are several ways to achieve this, one of the most important one is your dietary and eating habits. From understanding how important the food we eat is for our well-being and knowing what to eat, to a step-by-step guide to eating mindfully, we give you the expert-approved low- down. 

How important is the food we eat for our physical and emotional well-being? 

We spoke to co-founder and director of the Atmantan Wellness Centre, Sharmilee Kapur, who says, “The food we eat is connected with our emotional and physical well-being considering the powerful connection between our gut and brain, also known as the gut-brain axis. This connection between the central (brain) and the enteric (gut) nervous system creates the link, thanks to which our intestinal functions affect the emotional and cognitive regions of the brain. This link also works vice versa which is seen in what we sometimes call a gut feeling. Since the food we consume alters the health of this gastrointestinal system, this food also affects our emotional and physical well-being.” 

Given the above, it is important to not only be conscious of your food habits but also keep-in-mind that your well-being needs to be prioritised in the lead up to your wedding. According to Chief Experience Officer of Orangetheory Fitness, Drishti Chhabria, “By eating a well-balanced meal you are able to improve your energy levels to keep up with the hectic schedule of wedding planning as well as decrease stress levels with post-workout endorphins. Your food choices always help supply your body the right nutrients as well as boost your skin, hair, nails and other physical aspects of your well-being.”

Speaking of the right kind of nutrients, award-winning gut health expert and founder of Tan 365, Tanisha Bawa says, “There are certain nutrients and food groups that play an important role in regulating moods. For example, Omega 3 fatty acids, which is often associated with antidepressant effects; tryptophan, which helps produce serotonin; and magnesium, which plays a key role in nerve relaxation. Similarly, nutrition also plays a key role in our physical well-being. If you eat a lot of refined carbs, have a diet rich in trans fats and lacking fibre, your physical well-being will take a hit as you will experience gut discomfort, your digestion will be impaired, etc. Therefore, you need to make sure you are eating adequate fats, a diet rich in protein, good amount of fibre, hydrating well and doing it consistently.”

What foods should you incorporate in your diet for better well-being? 

For all the bride-to-be wondering what foods they can incorporate in their diet to look and feel their best at their wedding, there are a host of options available for you to include in your nutrition plan without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Kapur and Bawa give us the low-down. “Stay away from all processed foods and produce and instead consume good fats in nuts and seeds; protein such as eggs, collagen supplements, cottage cheese; and complex carbohydrates such as unprocessed whole grains, fibre-rich fruits and good  vegetables. Adequate hydration and essential sleep are equally important,” says Kapur. 

“Berries are a great source of antioxidants, thus reducing the oxidative stress in your body which shows on your skin, too. Vitamin C-rich fruits such as oranges and kiwi will also add glow to the skin. Try to include a celery and cucumber juice, which are rich sources of water, thus keeping the skin hydrated. For shiny, glowing hair, your diet must include foods rich in B12 and zinc, like quinoa, sweet potato, and egg yolks,” adds Bawa. 

The importance of mindful eating and exercise 

Besides formulating a foolproof nutrition plan, it is also important to remember the significance of eating mindfully and taking out the time to work out. Having your daily dose of fruits and vegetables and vitamin intake will do little good if you don’t consume it the right way or are unable to burn out the fats. 

Kapur lets us in on the details, “Mindful eating starts with making time for yourself as you sit down for mealtime. It includes chewing the food well, savouring each bite, taking the required breaks mid-course, and being aware of what the meal is doing for you and to you. Overall, mindful eating is incredibly important, and it is a great habit for brides to inculcate this sooner than later. One learns to eat till they are full and avoids overeating, thus helping manage stress. 

“Pay attention to your body’s signals. Observe how you feel when you eat well-balanced meals or when you just have a burger for lunch. Follow the 80/20 rule, i.e. 80 percent—eat clean and healthy, 20 percent—indulge in cravings,” says Bawa. 

For a healthy lifestyle, being active is very important and working out for 60 minutes, about three to four times a week would be the best way to stay healthy. There is no specific routine one should follow, but incorporating strength and cardio both is very important—particularly for a bride-to-be who is looking to tone her body. Working out regularly can also help reduce pre-wedding anxiety and boost your mood with post-workout endorphins,” says Chhabria.