SEOUL — After days filled with jeon, galbi-jjim, japchae, songpyeon and other Chuseok favorites, many people may feel tempted to dramatically change what they eat once the holiday ends.
But health experts say there is no need for an extreme reset.
Instead, the recommended approach is much simpler: return to your usual eating and activity routine, build balanced meals and give your body time to settle back into its normal rhythm.
Why You May Feel Different After the Holiday
Chuseok meals can contain more carbohydrates and sodium than a person’s usual meals.
That can temporarily increase water retention. Food that has not yet been fully digested can also affect how someone feels after several days of holiday eating.
As a result, changes noticed immediately after the holiday do not necessarily represent changes in body fat.
That is one reason experts caution against reacting with fasting or other drastic eating changes.
Don’t Try to ‘Undo’ the Holiday
Kwon Young-geun, a professor at Korea University Anam Hospital’s Obesity and Metabolism Center, advised people to avoid repeatedly restricting food before and after holidays.
His recommendation is to naturally return to regular eating and activity habits instead.
Rather than eliminating favorite Chuseok foods altogether, meals can simply return to a normal balance of vegetables, protein-rich foods and other familiar staples.
Portions can also be served according to hunger and eaten slowly, rather than turning the days after Chuseok into another period of strict restriction.
What Can You Put on the Table?
A straightforward post-holiday meal can include vegetables, a source of protein and a familiar carbohydrate such as rice or another grain.
Vegetables can add variety and fiber, while protein-rich foods can make meals satisfying.
If Chuseok leftovers remain, they do not automatically need to be avoided. They can be incorporated into ordinary meals alongside vegetables and other foods.
The same principle applies to desserts and traditional treats: enjoying them as part of a normal meal pattern is different from turning food into something that has to be completely banned.
Don’t Forget to Move
Experts also recommend returning to ordinary physical activity rather than trying to compensate for holiday meals with exhausting workouts.
A simple walk after a meal or walking during everyday activities can help people get back into their usual routine.
The goal is consistency, not punishment.
The Post-Chuseok Message Is Surprisingly Simple
Chuseok is a holiday built around family, tradition and food. One period of celebratory eating does not require an extreme response afterward.
Instead of fasting or dramatically changing meals, experts recommend giving yourself time to return to your normal eating patterns and everyday activity.
And that may be the biggest post-Chuseok takeaway: you don’t need a drastic reset — you need to get back to your regular routine.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
