South by Southwest is a glorious 10 days of collaboration, concerts, panels, and parties, but it also can be an indulgent time with a diet of greasy foods and lots of booze. If you find yourself sluggish and bloated from all the merriment, follow these tips from nutritionist Meredith Terranova of Eating and Living Healthy LLC on what to eat and drink for five days after the fest—and one smart thing you can do before it even begins.
At the end of the festival, you’re probably going to be running on fumes—not exactly a motivating time to go grocery shopping. So why not prepare for recovery before the event begins? In the days leading up to SXSW, Terranova recommends stocking your pantry and freezer with long-lasting items that you can eat post-festival, such as low-sodium soups, nuts, frozen meats, or frozen vegetables.
Now is the time to start guzzling H2O. “You’re probably slightly dehydrated, and you might be hung over—the best thing you can do is grab water,” Terranova says. She recommends 60 to 80 ounces daily for five days after the event. Bored with plain ol’ agua? Sub in decaffeinated fluids like herbal tea or green juice.
In the days after indulging, Terranova suggests building your meals around three things: good sources of protein, lots of vegetables, and high-quality fats. “The best thing you can do is move into an anti-inflammatory diet,” she says, recommending chicken, fish, and eggs; colorful veggies (like beets, tomatoes, and asparagus); and good fats like avocado, nuts, and olive and coconut oils.
People shouldn’t completely overhaul their diet post-fest if it goes against their normal one, Terranova warns. So if you rarely eat a bunch of vegetables, don’t incorporate too many too quickly. “If your body’s not used to doing something of this level, it actually can totally backfire on you,” she says. The same thing goes with limiting carbs: “You don’t want to set your body into a carb-depleted state, because that doesn’t feel good,” she says. Instead, go with 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates a day. As with all things in life, moderation is key.