The 15th day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, also known as the "Shangyuan Festival" or "Little New Year". On this day, lanterns are lit and released, hence it is also called the "Lantern Festival". Besides admiring the lanterns, eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls) is one of the most important customs of this festival, mainly to pray for the reunion of the whole family. To make tangyuan delicious and smooth, excessive sugar and fat (lard) are often added. From the perspective of modern nutrition, excessive intake of these ingredients will have a significant impact on human health. Therefore, celebrating a healthy Lantern Festival is surely the hope of all "tangyuan lovers". I. Calories
Tangyuan contains a lot of oil and sugar, so it is high in calories. It is not advisable for people who are overweight or suffer from hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, and diabetes to consume it excessively. For gout patients, high-fat foods can affect the excretion of uric acid, increasing the likelihood of a gout attack. Four sesame tangyuan have the same calories as a bowl of rice, while about forty small, non-filled tangyuan are equivalent to one bowl of rice. Therefore, for the holiday, you can replace filled tangyuan with non-filled ones to reduce calorie intake, or consume these calories through exercise, such as brisk walking for an hour. II. Outer Skin
Whether it's northern or southern tangyuan, the outer skin is made from glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice contains more amylopectin, is sticky, and difficult to digest. For people with poor gastrointestinal function, the elderly, and children, special attention should be paid when eating tangyuan to avoid indigestion or choking, which could cause irreparable harm. III. Filling
The fillings of tangyuan are varied, with both sweet and savory options. Sweet fillings include sesame paste, red bean paste, jujube paste, peanuts, etc. Savory tangyuan fillings include fresh meat, and vegetable-meat mixtures, etc. Regardless of whether the filling is sweet or savory, the fat content is very high. To enhance the flavor, lard is often used, which can affect the condition of patients with chronic diseases. Additionally, sweet fillings can cause blood sugar levels to become unstable in diabetic patients. Peanuts, sesame, and red bean paste are high in phosphorus, which can worsen the condition of kidney patients and must be paid special attention to. IV. Soup
Sweet-filled tangyuan are already sweet, so there is no need to add sugar to the soup to reduce calorie intake. For small, non-filled tangyuan, the sweet soup can be replaced by longan and red date soup or longan and ginger soup, which not only reduces some of the soup but also has the effect of nourishing the body and dispelling cold. For savory tangyuan, you can add small dried shrimp and plenty of vegetables to supplement more calcium and fiber while celebrating the holiday. However, it should be noted that too much oil or seasoning should not be added to the soup. V. Other
To reduce calories, avoid frying tangyuan when eating them. At the same time, consume more high-fiber foods and do more exercise than usual. Additionally, be careful when eating tangyuan as they can be "scalding hot" to avoid unnecessary injury and affect the festive atmosphere.