After a hearty barbecue, the temptation is great to “compensate” the next day by eating much less. But is this diet day really necessary? Not necessarily. For Julie Boët, dietitian-nutritionist, the main thing is above all to resume your usual rhythm, without feeling guilty.
After a barbecue, should you really eat less the next day?
Grilled meat, bread, sauces, chips, dessert… A barbecue is often much more filling (and caloric!) than a classic meal. However, there is no point in trying to “catch up” on this gap the next day.
“A barbecue can be perfectly integrated into a balanced diet. There is generally a source of protein with meat, fish or plant-based alternatives, as well as vegetables when the meal is accompanied by a salad, raw vegetables or grilled vegetables. The balance may simply be a little less obvious when bread, potato or pasta salad, sauces or particularly fatty foods are added.” says Julie Boët.
In the end, it is especially the little “sides” that can quickly increase intake. And there are often many of them around the barbecue.
“These are of course biscuits, chips, alcohol, sauces or even desserts that are a little too generous. Taken occasionally, there is nothing problematic about them. But if they are consumed regularly, yes, they are bad for your health”, underlines the nutritionist.
In other words, a simple barbecue is not enough to unbalance an overall diet. It’s what happens on your plate every day that counts.
What to eat the day after a very hearty meal?
So you will have understood: the next day, there is no need to punish yourself, skip meals or have a 100% vegetable day. And if you don’t have an appetite, don’t force yourself to eat. The best benchmark is – and must remain – your hunger.
“If you still have little appetite after said barbecue, you can eat smaller portions and favor simpler meals, less fatty and richer in vegetables. Exceptionally reducing the quantity of starchy foods is also a good idea if you don’t want them, but without systematically eliminating them: if this leads to a craving a few hours later, you will simply have displaced the problem”,
explains Julie Boët.
Concretely, your lunch should therefore consist of the following: vegetables, a source of protein, a small portion of starchy foods if necessary, then a fruit or dairy product. And of course, unlimited water!
“Remember to hydrate well, especially if the barbecue was accompanied by alcohol”, specifies the specialist.
Do you have to exercise to eliminate a barbecue?
After a very rich meal, some people may be tempted to increase their exercise sessions to “eliminate” the calories consumed. Here again, there is no need to go overboard.
“A walk, a usual activity or simply resuming your normal pace is enough. The weight can also be temporarily higher the next day because of salt, alcohol, a greater quantity of carbohydrates or simply digestive contents: it is not necessarily a question of gaining fat mass”, recalls Julie Boët.
It is therefore better to avoid drawing too hasty conclusions from a single number displayed on the scale. The idea here is rather to simply resume your habits, without trying to “cancel” the meal of the day before.
“A larger meal does not unbalance a balanced diet, just as a lighter meal does not “repair” an excess. It is the balance over time that counts,” says the dietitian-nutritionist.