THE FITNESS IN FESTIVITIES
This Diwali, while you gorge on delicacies, ensure that you make all the right dietary choices
With Diwali fast approaching, it becomes incredibly difficult to avoid all the goodies and sweetmeats being prepared. Festivals dictate you spend time with family and enjoy the season’s special treats, even though you may later regret those extra bites. So, here are a few experts who suggest ways of staying healthy while also enjoying your favourite sweets.
HEALTHY INDULGENCES
Dr Siddhant Bhargava, fitness and nutritional scientist, gives tips on how to avoid bingeing on sweets. She says, “The best way to do this is to find some healthy alternatives to sweets. ras malai is an Indian dessert which is a staple during the festival. With ingredients such as sugar, milk, ghee, cottage cheese, cream, and dry fruits, this dessert is high on calories. Instead, you can opt for the sugar-free ones made from lowfat milk. By opting for healthy almond and date truffles, you can surely curb weight gaining during festivities. Made from almond butter and dates, these wholesome recipes make it easy to stabilise both snacking on sweets and your health.”
Consumption of nourishing treats that taste equally delicious should be the best way to rejoice Diwali this year. Delnaaz T Chanduwadia, chief dietician, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, says, “To enjoy the festive season, one should have a balanced approach towards food. Commercial sweets contain a lot of unhealthy fat, khoya, mava and truck loads of sugar. Healthy alternatives would make for guilt-free indulgences. Try to incorporate healthy versions of traditional sweets like — ragibarfi, dry fruit laddoos made with dried figs or dates and nuts. No sugar needs to be added as the dates and figs impart enough sweetness.” With new age millennials prioritising fitness and
long-term wellness, the demand for healthier food, including sweets, has risen. Souvik Gupta, culinary head, Loft, says, “There are various alternatives to sweets that you can opt for. Fresh fruit shakes such as mixed berry smoothie and cold-pressed fusion juices such as spinach apple and ginger, beetroot and pineapple juice, among others serve as an ideal option as guilt-free palate pleasers.”
REPLACING SUGAR
Carlyne Remedios, clinical practices, nutrition and product development manager, Digestive Health Institute by Dr Muffi, says, “While making sweets at home, replace sugar with dates, date puree, date powder, raisins or figs . Jaggery, monk fruit, monk fruit sweeteners or stevia can be used instead of sugar. Fruit platters and fresh fruit salads are the simplest way to replace processed sugar. For children, frozen fruit lollies are an innovative way to keep them from cosuming too much processed sugar during the festive season. Dark chocolate can replace milk or white chocolate, fruit fondue (dark chocolate fondue) or roasted nut chikki are also healthier alternatives to traditional sugar laden mithai.”
Souvik Gupta adds, “We also have a plethora of options across various seasons on the menu which are prepared by infusing fruits. These include Mango Pannacotta and White Choco Blueberry Creamy modak which serve as gutfriendly alternatives to other unhealthy options. These are among some of the most in –
demand items that are preferred by guests.”
Arun Kumar, chef de cuisine, Elior India, picks dishes made of jaggery, lentils and grains. He says, “Karupatti Ellu Mittai, Finger Millet Flakes Puttu ( Ragi Aval Puttu ) and kharvas can be consumed.”
Deepika Dua Arora, dietitian and co-founder of Mutation Diet Clinic, says, “Opt for natural sweeteners like bananas or berries. Consume low sugar cookies or jaggerybased ones. Opt for low calorie desserts like sugar-free ice cream and chocolates or rasgullas.”