It’s just one week until Diwali, a time when many of us enjoy our treats and just let go of our healthier eating patterns. However, if you do overindulge, you will find yourself feeling bloated, heavier and more lethargic soon after.
An easy way to make it a healthy meal is by simply just adding in some vegetables. This is one food group that so many people overlook and it’s the one I emphasise on in my programs. Make your vegetables any way that you enjoy eating them, also including them in curries.
Keep drinking water through the day to hydrate you instead of having juices or soft drinks that are high in sugar.
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Eat mindfully, enjoy the taste, flavours, textures or what you are eating.
Limit your processed snacks. Yes, I know there is that temptation to eat numerous snacks and often, it’s habitual, because it’s what we have always done at this time of the year. The problem is that most of our traditional Indian sweet foods are high in sugar and fat. And the savoury foods, tend to be fried and are therefore high in fat and also may be too salty.
Instead make some simple swaps, so you can try and stay healthy this Diwali. Instead of fried food like pakoras or samosas why not have healthier snacks that are steamed like dhokla. You can also bake samosas and pakoras, and I agree, they don’t taste the same as the fried ones, but you won’t have that heavy feeling after. When making pakoras don’t use only potatoes, use other vegetables such as carrots, corn, spinach and zucchini.
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Also, you don’t need to avoid your favourite sweet treats but reduce the serving size. I too love my sweet treats such as ras malai, which I have occasionally, but only a small portion.
Sujata Din is a Certified Health Coach and Certified Professional Cancer Coach. In this regular column for iGlobal, she offers some special insights, from useful wellness tips to recipes for creations that are not only delicious but also healthy.
*Info: Healthy Diwali Treats