The grand celebrations during Diwali often lead us to indulge in a little bit of extra eating. Well, there’s nothing wrong with it since it’s the biggest Indian festival. It is, however, hard to stay away from the delicious delights, especially when everyone else is gorging on them.
Still, we cannot ignore the weight gain they cause once the festivities are over. You don’t have to stop treating your taste buds but on the other hand, nothing is good enough to compensate for all the hard work you have put in to achieve your fitness goals. The answer lies in moderation and in making smart choices.
Not sure what and how much you should be eating? You need to consult a nutritionist who understands your dietary habits and body type. Get FITFEAST to get in touch with experts in real-time along with access to in-app meal log, calorie counter, and water tracker. Eat according to your needs and preferences to get and stay fit.
Celebrations in India are hardly complete without Kaju Barfi. It is also one of the most commonly gifted sweets. However, since we are discussing healthy options, you must make an effort. Don’t go buying them from sweet shops and leave the sweet gift boxes alone. It’s time to make some healthy Kaju Barfi at home and you could probably give some to your relatives as well. Now for the healthy part, forget about sugar and get honey instead since it’s healthy.
- Cashews (2 Cups)
- Water (as required)
- Honey (1 Cup)
- Begin by roasting the cashews in a frying pan. Stir continuously to prevent them from burning
- Turn off the heat as their color changes and allow them to cool
- Next, grind them to make a coarse powder
- Then, heat some water and honey in a non-stick pan till the mixture bubbles up
- Add the cashew powder and stir continuously. Turn off the flame when you get a thick mixture
- Transfer the mixture on baking paper, flatten it, and place in the refrigerator
- Place a silver foil on the mixture as the mixture becomes firm
- Cut it in a preferred shape (usually diamond) and enjoy
The favorite Diwali namkeen is definitely Poha Chivda. It can be found in just about every household during the festival season. Since it requires minimal quantities of oil, it is healthy and you don’t need to worry about weight either. Moreover, it is quite easy to prepare.
- Poha (3 cups)
- Oil (1 tbsp)
- Chana Dal (2 tbsp)
- Kadi Patta
- Finely chopped green chili (1)
- Turmeric Powder (1/2 tsp)
- Mustard seeds (1/2 tsp)
- Peanuts (2 tbsp)
- Dried coconut (few slices)
- Sugar (1 tsp)
- Salt (to taste)
- Lemon juice (to taste)
- Roast the poha for 5 minutes in a pan on medium flame by stirring continuously
- Turn off the flame as the poha turns crispy and transfer it onto a platter
- Heat the oil in the pan on medium flame and add mustard seeds once hot
- Add the green chili and curry leaves. Saute the ingredients
- As they turn crispy, add the dried coconut slices, chana dal, and peanuts and mix them properly
- Add turmeric powder, sugar, salt, and lemon juice once the ingredients turn crispy and light brown
- Add poha and mix well. Finally, turn off the flame and let it cool down.
- Always store it in an airtight container.
Aren’t shakkarpare just the best snacks ever? Traditionally consumed during Holi and Diwali, the quantities in which they are consumed can be a tad bit unhealthy since they are fried in refined oil or ghee. However, an alternative can make it healthier; use whole-wheat flour. You can also make namak pare if you’re not crazy about sugar.
- Wheat flour (3/4th cup)
- Milk (5 tbsp)
- Ghee (1 tsp)
- Sugar (2 tbsp)
- Salt (to taste/pinch)
- Add the milk, ghee, and sugar in a deep pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on a low flame till the sugar dissolves
- Sieve the flour and salt
- Add the mixture in the pan with the flour and knead soft dough
- Roll out a portion and cut it in diamond shapes and place them in a greased baking tray
- Bake them for 8-10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius in a preheated oven
- Finally, allow them to cool before enjoying them
Dry fruits are healthy and laddus are irresistible. How about dry fruit laddus? Problem solved, right? They are much healthier than those made from lots of sugar and ghee. This is one of the best sugar-free recipes for Diwali.
- Dates (chopped) – 1 Cup
- Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios, Raisins, Figs – 1/4th cup
- Coconut (desiccated)
- Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
- Ghee – 1 tbsp
- Grind the dates for a few seconds and keep aside. Make sure you don’t finely ground them
- Finely chop the rest of the dry fruits
- Heat the ghee in a wok on low flame
- Add the dry fruits (except the dates) and sauté the mixture for 4-5 minutes
- Next, add the dates and stir nicely
- Then, add the cardamom powder and mix well
- Turn off the flame and let it cool for a couple of minutes
- Transfer into a large dish and make laddus
Want to add a savory snack to your Diwali snacks? Papdis is the best bet; they are tasty and great teatime snacks. Baking them is much better than frying them to keep health in check.
- Whole wheat flour (1 cup)
- All-purpose flour (1 cup)
- Carom & Cumin seeds (1 tsp each)
- Ghee (2 tbsp)
- Water (as required)
- Salt (to taste)
- Mix the whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour with the seeds and salt in a bowl
- Add half a teaspoon of ghee and mix well
- Add some water slowly and knead a firm dough. Then set it aside for about half an hour
- Knead the dough again and make 4-5 balls
- Make chapatis out of the balls and cut them into a round shape. Prick them with a fork
- Set them on a parchment paper on a baking tray. You can directly place them on the tray greased with ghee as well
- Bake them for 20-25 minutes in the oven preheated at 180 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes
Healthily preparing your favorite snacks is much better than avoiding them altogether. Instead of making them in a rush, start making them now so that your loved ones can enjoy as well.
