3 Quick Tips to Surviving Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is nearly synonymous with overindulgence. However, unless you want to party all night and recover all week, we highly recommend that you follow our Mardi Gras survival guide to safely indulge in everything the city has to offer.
Mardi Gras Mistake 1: Ignoring Heart Health
You want to make sure your heart is healthy during and after you leave the Crescent City. This means paying close attention to your heart health in order to chase all of the parades. The following tips will easily boost your heart health without putting in a lot of work!
Walk — This is probably the easiest tip you will find on the list. Mardi Gras is all about walking, so get a pair of sturdy shoes and have at the city!
Quiet Space — Finding a quiet space in New Orleans during Mardi Gras is easy. Just pick an area in your hotel room to have a few minutes to yourself for some quick meditation or a place where you allow yourself to just be quiet.
Glass of Red Wine — We know, New Orleans is overrun with all types of ways to imbibe, however, we would like for you to try to at least indulge in one glass of red wine to help keep heart disease at bay.
Mardi Gras Mistake 2: Alcohol Overindulgence
That glass of red wine won’t save you during Mardi Gras if you are drinking everything else under the sun while you’re there. Don’t worry though, we have you!
Moderation — Everything in moderation definitely holds true when it comes to alcohol. Unless you want to entertain a category 5 hangover, limit the amount of drinks you take in per day.
Eat Breakfast — You can’t skip breakfast in a city that’s a world-renowned food culture. Yet, if you have to go big, fill up during breakfast. That’s the best time to begin the fight against a hangover and it also helps prevent you from overeating during the day.
Hydrate — We can never say it too many times but drink water. The best rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water between drinks (or shots). Staying hydrated will keep you on top of things and the hangover monster at bay.
Mardi Gras Mistake 3: Gluttony
Use this as a word of caution. We went to New Orleans, sampled everything and our waistlines paid the price. We were miserable and vowed to be more responsible the next time we returned. How are we going to do it?
More Water — Yup, drinking water is the way to go if you want to prevent a hangover and to get your digestive juices flowing. The more water you drink, the faster you can get rid of that food baby and be back in fighting form.
Move — Resist the urge to take a nap after you’ve had a big meal. Instead, walk everywhere you can to get the food moving and prevent that heavy feeling from appearing at the worst moment.
Get Your Mind Right — The feeling of “so much food, so little time” is in the air in NOLA. However, the city offers so much more than food. Visit City Park, the Audubon Zoo, The National World War II Museum and more to get your mind away from eating 24/7 and back to the city’s fun attractions.
Mardi Gras is an event worthy of attending at least once in a person’s life. Yet, if one isn’t ready for everything, he or she may end up overwhelmed and end up on the sidelines. Staying on top of one’s health is the only way to be able to have a good time and still be back at work bright eyed and bushy tailed come Monday morning. Stay healthy and laissez le bon temps rouler!
