1. Consider Sugar Substitutes
Festivals are incomplete without sweet treats, no matter how many there are. Consuming these delicious desserts can impact your health, making you more susceptible to weight gain and diseases like diabetes. Incorporate natural sweetness from dates, cardamom, figs, and saffron in dishes like kheer, halwa, fruit salad, and rava sheera.
2. Switch to Plain Soda
When dining out, opt for plain soda or sparkling water instead of sugary syrups, sweetened carbonated drinks, and fruit juices. This switch not only significantly reduces calorie intake but also helps lower your overall sugar consumption.
3. Opt for Roasting Instead of Frying
To avoid excessive intake of fried foods during the festive season, consider roasting everything you typically fry. Roasted foods are not only delicious but also provide promising health benefits. This method enhances texture and deepens the flavors of dishes. So, roast your vadas, samosas, bhajis, spring rolls, and cutlets instead of frying them.
4. Introduce Real Food-Based Dips
If you’re accustomed to dipping your kebabs and cutlets in mayonnaise, switch to yogurt-based dips that are lower in calories and fat. Yogurt is packed with protein, calcium, and probiotics, making it a healthier choice. Alternatively, choose popular Indian chutneys, whether it’s spicy green coriander chutney or the sweet yet tangy tamarind chutney.
5. Swap Milk and White Chocolate for Dark Chocolate
While indulging in a whole bar of chocolate can be tempting, overeating can put you at risk of weight gain. This festive season, try replacing white and milk chocolate gifts with dark chocolate. Unlike white chocolate, which contains no cocoa and offers no health benefits, dark chocolate is rich in cocoa, which contains antioxidants that can help prevent additional weight gain.
6. Reach for Cinnamon Tea
During the festive season, it’s easy to consume excess sugar. If you feel you’ve had too much, brew a cup of cinnamon tea. The effects of cinnamon can help reduce blood sugar levels, making it a comforting and healthful choice.
7. Replace Salted Nuts with Raw Nuts
Monitoring your salt intake is just as crucial as keeping an eye on sweets. Reduce salt consumption by opting for raw nuts instead of salted varieties, as they are rich in heart-healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
8. Choose Fruits Over Sweets
Instead of snacking on Indian sweets, opt for fruits. Fruits are rich in essential nutrients and provide numerous health benefits. They can also satisfy your sweet cravings while offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Compared to sweets, fruits are generally lower in calories and higher in fiber. Reserve sweets for rare occasions.
9. Prepare Desserts at Home
Instead of purchasing sweets for the festivities, try making them at home with healthier ingredient options. Some choices you can experiment with include coconut barfi/laddoos, gourd (lauki) katli, energy balls with dried fruits, carrot cake, and whole grain cookies. Create nut-based sweets or chikki (traditional Indian energy bars). Nuts are a powerhouse of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and healthy fats that provide instant satiety.
