Chinese New Year 2026: How to eat for Heng without affecting your health

Chinese New Year is a time of joy. Family gatherings and auspicious meals together. However, this festival often causes many people to accidentally eat foods high in sugar, fat, and sodium, and consume more than necessary without realizing it.  

This Chinese New Year 2026, we would like to invite everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year consciously.
Prosperity along with health care While many Chinese New Year dishes are nutritious, some can have negative health effects if eaten in excess. Therefore, choosing to eat in moderation during the festival can help reduce the risk of health problems such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and high blood pressure, especially in people with underlying diseases or in risk groups.  

In order for everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a happy and safe and healthy way, we recommend foods that should be especially paid attention to during the Chinese New Year. As follows:

1. Foods with high sugar content 

Foods high in sugar during the Chinese New Year festival are often auspicious snacks such as candle cakes, cakes, fluffy cakes, and various sweets with high sugar and carbohydrate content.  

For fruits, choose fresh fruits that are not too sweet, such as oranges, apples, guava, pink, or pears. 
Although fruits are rich in vitamins and fiber, they also contain natural sugars, so eat them in moderation and avoid eating fruits or processed fruits. People with diabetes or high blood sugar levels should limit or avoid eating sweeter-flavored foods than necessary. 

2. High-fat food groups 

Fried foods Fried foods that use a lot of oil, or lean meats such as pork belly. 
Choose lean meats such as fish, chicken or skinless duck, and avoid eating large amounts of shrimp heads.  

In addition, choose healthy cooking methods such as steaming. Boil, stew, or bake 
If oil is needed, choose an oil that contains unsaturated fatty acids, such as rice bran oil, canola oil, or soybean oil, and use it in appropriate amounts. 

3. Foods high in sodium 

Processed foods, broths, palo sauces, and various condiments have a high sodium content. If taken in excess, it can affect blood pressure and kidney function. Avoid souping or pouring water. Choose only a small amount of topping, and reduce the addition of additional seasonings. People with hypertension or kidney disease should be especially careful. 

It is important to choose the right diet during the Chinese New Year. Choosing nutritious menus and avoiding foods high in sugar, fat and sodium will help everyone celebrate the Chinese New Year happily while taking care of their health at the same time. 

-Xin Nian Kaile Shen Ti Jian Kang Xin Shicheng- 

(Wishing you all happiness, good health, and fulfillment in all respects on Chinese New Year) 

References 

1. Elderly Nutrition Promotion Group, Bureau of Nutrition, Department of Health. Healthy Starting from... Vegetables, fruits. Bangkok: Samcharoen Commercial Co., Ltd.; 

2. World Health Organization. Healthy diet [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020 Apr 29 [cited 2025 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet 

3. World Health Organization. Sodium reduction [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025 Feb 7 [cited 2025 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sodium-reduction