Diwali is just around the corner, and it is time to devour on lip-smacking sweets and savory snacks. With so many scrumptious items being prepared at home and offered by friends and relatives, it becomes difficult to resist even by the most fitness enthusiast person. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of the year, and it is worth having few cheat days. But what if you could cheat on your diet without adding any inches to your waist?
Yes, you heard that right! You can actually indulge in Diwali fervour without compromising on your fitness by making some food swaps and alterations for healthy snacking. Here’s a look:
– Substituting full cream milk with skimmed milk
Milk is an essential ingredient in the preparation of any sweet whether it is rasgulla, cham- cham, Barfi, kheer, or rasmalai. These sweets add a lot of calories to your diet. So why not make use of skimmed milk in preparation as it will help in cutting down calories and make your stomach feel lighter.
– Using whole-wheat flour
We traditionally make Diwali snacks such as Namak and Shakkar Pare, Sev, Mathri, and balushahi from refined flour. These items delight your taste buds but harm your health because of maida content. Using whole-wheat flour is an excellent idea as it is full of fiber and prevents your sugar levels from shooting up. You can also go with ragi flour if you don’t have an issue with the taste. Ragi contains anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic properties as well.
– Avoid using sugar and use Honey or Jaggery
Every sweet contains heaps of sugars and sugar is not good for us. You can replace the sugar with honey or jaggery. Makes sure the jaggery doesn’t contain refined sugar. You can also make use of sugar-free powder for making the sweets as they sweeten without adding calories. Sugar-free sweets can be consumed even by people with diabetes.
– Alternative to milk
Apart from the skimmed milk, you can also go for other milk substitutes such as cow milk or plant-based milk. In the plant-based milk, the soy and nut milk are gaining immense popularity for the health benefits. The dairy-free milk is beneficial for people who are lactose-intolerant or vegans. The dairy-free milk aids in weight loss, good for heart health, and lowers the cholesterol level. It is a great idea to substitute regular milk with these items.
Additional tips for eating healthy this Diwali
- If you are planning to have samosas, cutlets, or bhajias, instead of frying, try to roast them for cutting down the calories.
- Puris are a favourite during every festival. But why not substitute them with parathas or tandoori rotis. They are less oily and easy to digest. Don’t hold yourself back from enjoying the festive season; all you need is simple food swaps!
However, moderation is the key. Though you have made these food swaps, it is essential to keep a check on the calories and not overindulge. Festivals are incomplete without delicious food, but don’t make it all about food!
If you are looking for more such healthy recipes and suggestions to keep a check on your weight this Diwali, download the Healthsum Life App. It is a one-stop solution for all your health-related needs. You can also schedule your family health checkups with the help of the app at your nearest healthcare centre.