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Weddings

Here's What to Avoid Eating (and Drinking) the Week Before Your Wedding

Stay away from these foods and drinks in the days before your wedding day—some of these might surprise you!

woman drinking soda

woman drinking soda

With your wedding day right around the corner, you’re probably feeling a myriad of emotions—one of those, of course, being excitement, but another might be anxiousness. There’s probably so much on your mind—more than ever before—as you iron out every last detail. One super important aspect of last-minute wedding prep that falls to the wayside for many brides is caring for yourself. Even up to the very last day before your wedding, there should be a strong focus on ensuring that you’re healthy, well-slept, and well-fed. In other words, it’s smart to have a list of foods to avoid before your wedding. What you eat leading up to your wedding day may determine how good (or bad) you’ll feel on your big day.

To make sure you’re avoiding anything that could leave you bloated, achy or cranky on this all-important time in your life, we asked nutrition pros to share the foods to avoid before your wedding.

Carbonated drinks

Beverages with bubbles—such as sparkling water, seltzer, and soda—tend to increase bloating, something you definitely want to avoid leading up to your wedding, explains Amy Gorin, M.S., R.D.N. of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. “If you’re looking for a more exciting beverage than plain water, add cucumber and lemon slices to a pitcher of water, or try a mixture of berries and mint.”

Additionally, Frances Largeman-Roth, R.D.N., nutrition expert and author of Eating in Color, recommends avoiding drinking any beverage through a straw or chewing gum—both of these can cause you to swallow air, which creates gas in your stomach. “Sip directly from your glass and if you need to freshen your breath, opt for a small mint,” she adds.

Salty foods

Sodium-rich foods, such as smoked, cured or salted meats, fish or poultry, salted nuts, frozen meals, etc., cause your body to retain water, which, inevitably, leaves you feeling bloated—the last thing you want to feel prior to putting on your wedding gown, notes Keri Gans, R.D.N., NYC nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet. “Many restaurants, including fast food chains, Chinese food, and Japanese food use a lot of salt in their cooking and you might want to avoid for this week,” she says. “Also many brands of pretzels or chips and sandwich meat are high in sodium, so I suggest reading the nutrition facts label and checking for grams of sodium prior to purchasing.”

Legumes and cruciferous veggies

Sure, they’re healthy, but you know how the saying goes, “Beans, beans they’re good for your heart, the more you eat the more you…” It’s true, which is why experts recommend adding beans and legumes, including soy products on your list of foods to avoid before your wedding. Additionally, resist any cruciferous veggies, such as cauliflower, broccoli or Brussels sprouts. “While very healthy for you, they often create a lot of gas, which can lead to a puffy stomach and sabotage your silhouette,” says Largeman-Roth. Instead, she recommends opting for easy-to-digest foods that still have a moderate amount of fiber (you also don’t want to get constipated), like whole grain pasta, oatmeal and fruit. And choose lean proteins without sauces, like seafood, poultry and lean cuts of beef and lamb.

Booze

Of course you’re going to be enjoying a few (or more!) glasses of champagne on your wedding day, but it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol in the days leading up to saying “I do.” “Alcohol is dehydrating, and drinking too much can lead to side effects like headache and disrupted sleep—which are no fun leading up to your wedding!” says Gorin. “Plus, combining alcohol with caffeine, such as a vodka and Red Bull, increases blood-alcohol combinations significantly more than alcohol on its own.”

Anything with sugar alcohols

When you’re watching your waistline, it can be tempting to grab anything promising to be “sugar-free.” But experts warn to be cautious of anything with sugar alcohols—these are definitely foods to avoid before your wedding. “Sugar alcohols can cause bloating and gastrointestinal discomfort in some people,” says Gorin. “You can spot them on ingredients labels fairly easily, since most end in the letters ‘ol.’” Craving dessert? Gorin recommends a fruit-based ice cream made with just bananas and unsweetened cocoa powder, or a handful of berries with a dusting of cinnamon.