JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The slogan for this year's Fiesta San Antonio celebration is "Get fit for Fiesta."
Celebrants can enjoy the festivities and still stay trim thanks to some health and fitness tips from the Warhawk Health and Wellness Center.
"Everyone has their favorite foods, but if you are trying to manage your weight or lose pounds during Fiesta, start your own tradition," said Joanne Villaflor, a registered dietitian at the HAWC. "Savor the taste of Fiesta but enjoy it in moderation."
There are several ways people can watch their weight during Fiesta; Villaflor recommends counting calories.
The My Fitness Pal website is a good tool to use for tracking calories, plus grams of fat and protein in the variety of cuisine available at Fiesta events during the 11-day celebration.
Patrons attending Oyster Bake would be better served indulging in raw and baked oysters instead of fried oysters, she said. "One raw oyster contains 41 calories and 1.2 grams of fat while a baked oyster can contain 100 calories if cheese and spinach are applied to it."
She also advises patrons to limit fried turkey leg consumption, a popular Fiesta tradition.
"The turkey leg, although all protein, is not lean protein," Villaflor said. "The dark meat on a turkey leg has anywhere between 400 and 800 calories, depending on how big the turkey leg is."
Each serving of turkey has 15 grams of fat, according to Villaflor's research on My Fitness Pal.
"For those people who are on a 2,000 calorie diet, they don't want to exceed more than 65 grams of fat for the entire day," the registered dietitian added.
As an option, Oyster Bake observers can munch on roasted corn without mayonnaise and butter, grilled chicken on a stick, or shrimp kabobs.
Partygoers at the Taste of New Orleans event would be advised to try etouffée, which contains 250 calories and 14 grams of fat, rather than gumbo, which has more than 300 calories and 27 grams of fat, according to the My Fitness Pal website.
Villaflor recommended carrying fruits and snacks with you throughout the day to help curb appetite and the temptation to eat high-calorie foods.
"Watch your portion sizes," she said. "Share food with your group and carry snacks like protein bars or almonds."