As your wedding gets closer, the To Do list can feel ever-growing. The final decisions must be made, the table settings chosen, wedding dress fittings are done and of course, you’ll be thinking about maintaining your weight or perhaps losing those last few pounds

During times of stress, many of us turn to food. This can be a comforting release when we have a lot going on. Or perhaps we suddenly run out of time for nutritious, home-cooked food when we are busy and takeaways or packaged foods become the norm. Whatever your style, you want to make sure you’re looking healthy, refreshed, and energized on your wedding day.

A month out from your wedding what you eat before your wedding will have an impact on how you feel on your big day. Here are some simple wedding diet tips to ensure you are feeling and looking your best without adding more stress to your life, and without trying out any crash diets that aren’t good for you and won’t make you feel good.

One Month Until Wedding Diet

Oats

Oats are a great wholegrain option to leave you feeling full for longer. You don’t want to completely remove carbohydrates from your diet, but you want to make sure those that you are consuming are healthy and slow energy release. As oats are complex carbohydrates, they are a great healthy carb option to add to your wedding diet. Oats also provide a gluten-free option to replace wheat toast in the mornings.

Avocado

Avocados are packed full of vitamins and minerals — C, E, K, B6, folate, magnesium, and potassium. What’s not to love about that? Also, they are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Full of nutrients and high in fat, avocados are a great food to keep healthy and feel satiety in the lead-up to your wedding.

My recommendation would be ½ an avocado a day or every other day.

Salmon

Salmon is a great source of lean protein and is high in good fats. It also contains B vitamins, potassium, selenium, and antioxidants. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon can help lower blood pressure and decrease inflammation in the body.

As with all foods, moderation is key. Look to have about 4 oz if choosing to add salmon to a main meal.

Nuts

Nuts are a great source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. You can eat a variety to mix up the taste so you won’t get bored.

Some of my favorites are almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts. Each has different nutrients so try a new one today!

Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and healthy fats, especially for those brides-to-be on a plant-based diet. They’re such a great option because you can cook them in so many different ways, meaning you can add them to many of your meals or simply boil them and have them as a snack. I like a little bit of Everything Bagel seasoning on mine!

Herbs and spices

Swap out your garlic, which is high in fructans for other herbs and spices such as thyme, basil, parsley or chives. This will add flavor to your meals while removing fructans which can cause bloating and gas.

Probiotics

Probiotic supplements have been shown to reduce gas production and bloating in some people with digestive problems. You need to ensure you take a good quality variety that will actually contain the correct bacteria in amounts that are beneficial for your gut. It can take them a while to start working and balancing out your microbiome so start early and don’t expect immediate results.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits such as bananas, blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, and strawberries are great for those that have a sweet tooth. Consuming fresh or frozen fruit can help you avoid processed sweet treats without feeling deprived in the lead-up to your big day.

Vegetables like spinach, cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini can be used in place of cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts. These contain FODMAPS which are more likely to cause bloating. Switching these out means that you’re still getting your greens without the bloat.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a great low GI food that will leave you feeling full. It's another complex carbohydrate that’s food for you. It’s easy to digest so if you have a nervous stomach it can help settle you. It also allows you to consume rice while cutting down the starch content in your diet.

Other Tips To Lose Weight When Wedding Is One Month Away

What you eat before your wedding isn’t the only thing that matters. There are other lifestyle things you need to think about if you want to not only look good but feel good as well!

Sleep

Making sure that you’re well rested will not only help your stress levels, but it will also help your weight loss plan as well. It will also make you feel good. You’ll have more energy for everything that you need to get done as well as helping you deal with unexpected stresses. You don’t want to have to deal with bags under your eyes on the wedding day.

Watch The Salt

Too much salt in your diet can lead to you becoming bloated. You can avoid this, while feeling calm and ensuring your dress fits perfectly by reducing your salt intake.

The easiest way to do this is to eat home-cooked meals or snacks as most packaged and processed foods contain high amounts of sodium. You can still add some salt but you’ll have better control over the amounts.

Drink Up

Ensuring you stay hydrated throughout this month is a must. It will help your brain function even during any stressful times and make all those last-minute decisions so much easier.

Aim for eight glasses a day. Being able to track how much you’ve had to drink each day is essential. Get yourself a large water bottle or a tracking app on your phone. No more wondering exactly how much you’ve had or whether you need to pick up the pace.

Spread out the water throughout the day. You don’t want to end up drinking too much before bed. This will also help ensure you don’t mistake dehydration for hunger and help with weight loss.

Mental Health

This can be a very stressful month as you finalize the details of your wedding day. Make sure you’re taking time for yourself, whether that’s for fitness, a walk, reading or meditating. Keeping your mind clear will help you remember details, make decisions faster and feel less stressed. It will also help you enjoy the special time.

Strength Training

Fitness is a key component of mental health as well as an outlet for you. It gives you time to yourself, will make you feel strong and build resilience. Don’t be put off strength training by thinking you’ll end up looking bulky. You can build a plan for the month leading up that will make you look strong and toned. 30 minutes, several times a week is all you need to help you reach your goals.

Pre-Wedding Diet Plan

Make a plan for the week before your wedding. Things will ramp up for brides and grooms even more in that final week, so having it planned in advance will help. You can meal prep and have items in the freezer, order your groceries the week before or ask family and friends to help out. Avoiding takeaways during this week is a must! Here are some more tips for that final week.

You’re gluten-free? Here’s a gluten-free meal plan for weight loss.

You’re looking for a low-carb diet? Here’s a keto wedding diet.