The CNY survival guide you'll need
And before you know it, it's already February. The month of love, and the shortest one in the year — all the more reason for us to cherish the people that matter. Like family. Here's kicking things off with a topic we're all familiar with — Chinese New Year! These 8 tips will help you prep for and get through the festivities unscathed... and thoroughly enjoy yourselves of course.
1. #eatclean now, feast later
The time for epic festive feasting is just two weeks away (although you may have already unofficially started!) But if you're looking forward to enjoying the CNY goodies without too much guilt, how about making small changes to your regular diet now? A balanced meal with healthy fats and wholesome grains is a good bet. Grain Traders at CapitaGreen offers hearty meals that will fill and fuel you up. Their Roasted Chicken Brown Rice Porridge makes an excellent breakfast substitute for conventional porridge, while their signature bowls are perfect for lunch or dinner.
Photos by: @graintraders
2. Feed your workouts, literally
This one's for all of you who subscribe to the gym-first-eat-later philosophy, and can definitely extend beyond the festivities. Research suggests that people who eat before working out tend to burn more than those who don’t.
Of course, that doesn't mean you should be wolfing down a big meal before changing into workout gear. Instead, have a power snack an hour or two before exercising.
Check out the delicious selection of sandwiches at Cedele at Raffles City and The Star Vista. If the portions weigh on the generous side, halve them for a satisfying pre- and post-HIIT snack.
We know how important it is to make that final dash towards health and fitness before all the feasting. The Star Vista's on your side with their free workouts - Kickboxing Mondays, Zumba Tuesdays and Piloxing Wednesdays. Head to their Facebook for the full schedule.
3. Sleep more to eat less
We're not making this up; it's backed by real science. Insufficient sleep increases the chances of overeating, developing food cravings, and late-night snacking.
That's because sleep deprivation affects the hormone levels that control hunger and satiety, which is why we reach for more (and probably more unhealthy) food.
If you’re looking to invest in quality sleep, check out the Sealy Sleep Boutique at Plaza Singapura. Their Posturepedic® mattresses are one of the top choices of world renowned hotels, and they’re currently on sale! This offer ends on 15 February, so act fast.
Treat this as a good time to replace the mattresses in your home while you spring clean for the festive period too.
4. Pay the good forward
And since we're on the topic of spring cleaning — we’ve talked about decluttering as a process of prioritising what matters most in your life, and Chinese New Year decluttering isn't any different. Take this as an opportunity to set things right in your home and improve your lifestyle in a new and refreshing way.
Our 100-day rule still applies — if you have stuff sitting in a corner that hasn’t been touched for months, you probably don’t need it.
But someone else might! Make the bin your last resort. Instead, send pre-loved clothes to the H&M recycling receptacles at ION Orchard or Tampines Mall, or start your own fundraiser on websites like giving.sg to benefit charities of your choice.
5. Paint the town red
If you're thinking, “Just because it’s Chinese New Year, I have to wear red?!” — hear us out. The hue is associated with power and passion, making a fashion statement like no other.
Stretch your dollar at IMM's outlet stores, like IMAGINEX Group's deal of up to 80% off brands such as alice + olivia, Club Monaco and Scotch & Soda. If a full-on red outfit isn't up your alley, accessories with a splash of red are great too; check out the mall's Pedro outlet with its new Spring Summer collection, and snag a bag at the COACH outlet's special sale, with items going for up to 70% off.
Plus, red is also the colour of love — perfect for a Valentine's Day date. Now that's truly stretching your buck!
6. Chope the delicious meals
Where are you having your reunion dinner? If you don’t have a ready answer now, it’s time to hustle!
Thankfully, we live in an app-tastic world, so a couple of taps is all it takes to get your get-together plans in place.
With restaurant booking app Chope being CapitaLand’s exclusive restaurant partner, you've got plenty of options.
For classic fare with an elegant flair, choose Sze Chuan Court at Fairmont Singapore. For a crowd-pleasing meal that's suitable for family members of all ages, there’s Dian Xiao Er at Bedok Mall, Junction 8 and Lot One. And for Chinese food with a show-stopping twist, Lokkee at Plaza Singapura offers some out-of-the-box innovative menu items.
7. Don't show up hangry
This is one we stand by, at all times — never show up at a party with an empty stomach. Whether it’s Chinese New Year or not, we like to line the insides of our tummies a little before socialising.
Because hunger makes us do crazy things, like polishing off thrice as much as we usually eat. (And being all grumpy and un-fun around people.) When running the visiting circuit this year, plan your route so you can grab a healthy smoothie between gatherings.
Boost Juice Bar at Bugis Junction, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Plaza Singapura and Raffles City does fantastic pre-party fillers that will keep you from a diet disaster.
And, they're so thirst-quenching they're perfect for the gatherings that involve quite a bit of conversation.
8. Do more, and do special
While visiting friends and family at home is customary during Chinese New Year, there’s nothing that says you can’t get creative. Do something more and special this year! Everyone’s favourite Art-Zoo Inflatable Park is making a return this year and ahead of its official March opening, CapitaLand malls are offering a preview tour just for shoppers. Make your way to Bedok Mall, Bugis+, JCube, Plaza Singapura, Raffles City Shopping Centre and Westgate from 12 to 25 February for a first look at this year’s larger-than-life inflatables. Bring the whole fam bam! There’s definitely fun to be had for all ages.
So there you go, 8 simple ways to focus on the fun this Chinese New Year. From all of us at CapitaLand, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a "wang旺"derful Year of the Dog!