Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights comes once a year and the sweets and snacks made and relished during Diwali are a way for friends and families to connect and socialize. These delicacies and festivities have a special place in everyone’s heart, but remember not to let it ruin a year-long of your hard work. Indulging in moderation is the key. Diwali is a time of celebration, and no matter how hard you try to NOT eat delicious sweets and fried snacks, a few words of persuasion from your friends and relatives is all you need to give in to temptation. But for those who want to stay steadfast on the healthy path, you don’t need to miss out on the fun of enjoying the food and drinks at home or at parties. Be mindful of your food choices and balance your Diwali festivities. Here are a few healthy hacks to enjoy a guilt free Diwali Season:
- Commit to Your Exercise Routine : First and foremost, don’t skip your exercise or workout. Exercise helps you to maintain your weight and also improves blood circulation and helps prevents inflammation related to lack of sleep, late-night indulgences. etc.
- Stay Hydrated: Keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water or lime water, green tea, coconut water, etc.
- Shop, Cook, and Eat Smart: Avoid processed, packaged foods which are high in preservatives, salt, sugar and trans-fats. Opt for homemade treats rather than store bought, boxed, or packaged sweets and snacks. Instead of deep frying, consider baking. An air fryer is a great option.
- Make Healthy Drink Choices: Go slow on aerated and alcoholic beverages as they are empty calories and high in sugar. Indulge in moderation. Make homemade lemonade, fruit or vegetable infused water-add strawberries or cucumber slices with mint leaves to water, unsweetened ice teas, low fat smoothies, etc.
- Control Your Portions and Eat Mindfully: One of the easiest ways to stay fit during Diwali is by eating slowly and savoring the taste of the food you eat. Grab a small plate when you plan to eat Diwali snacks, this way, you will take what you REALLY want to eat in fewer amounts, which will prevent you from adding extra calories to your diet. Also, try not to go back for seconds. Keep in mind that eating in a small plate does not mean you are stingy or picky, you are only mindful.
- Healthy Gifting: Opt for healthy options while gifting your near and dear ones. Healthier gift options may include fruit baskets or fruit platters, boxes of nuts, dark chocolate covered fruits and nuts.
- Go Unconventional: Rather than offering and eating traditional Mithai/Indian sweets and snacks go for homemade healthy options replacing refined flour for other healthier options like whole wheat flour, millet flour and white sugar for jaggery, stevia, coconut sugar, honey, raisins, or dates along with a variety of dry fruits and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, raisins, figs, flax seeds, melon seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
Tips for Hosting a Diwali Party
Simply swapping a couple of ingredients of certain treats with their healthier counterparts can help you host healthy Diwali parties and let your guests indulge in all the festive fun including food and drinks.
Here are a few tips to cook healthy and serve healthy beverages:
- Avoid using any processed foods.
- Use low-fat or skimmed milk to make desserts instead of full cream milk.
- Use healthy cooking methods like stir fry or baking instead of deep-frying. https://www.indianveggiedelight.com/air-fryer-indian-recipes/
- Replace sugar in Mithai’s/Indian sweets with dates, jaggery or any natural sweetener. Substitute 1 Tablespoon sugar with the following- 1.5 tablespoons of melted jaggery or 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar or ¾ tablespoon of honey or 1 ½ teaspoon of stevia powder or 15 drops of liquid stevia or 3 stevia pellets.
- Serve nonalcoholic drinks and make healthy low fat smoothies, mocktails with low calorie aerated beverages, unsweetened fruit juices, flavored iced teas.
- These little swaps can make a big difference when you’re entertaining and also gorging on the treats in plenty!
Anisha Chhibber, MS, RDN, CNSC
Clinical Dietitian, NJ
