Diwali Special: How To Make Low Calorie Sweets & Snacks
Laddus don't have to be loaded with sugar & ghee. Photo: India Food Network
Be it laddus soaked in asli ghee or barfi loaded with sugar, indulgence is inevitable during festivals. All the mithais and deep-fried samosas, chaklis and kachoris are bound to show their results once the festival passes, so a healthier approach to festive foods is crucial.
Substituting a few ingredients can go a long way in helping you to follow a healthier diet and still enjoy the festival in its true sense.
Opt for natural sugars
Diwali is incomplete without sweets, but they don’t necessarily need to be unhealthy. A simple act of substituting processed sugars with natural ones can make a whole lot of difference. Add honey, dates, jaggery or agave nectar instead of the regular sugar to make healthier mithais.
Hold back the generosity
The one advice our mothers have been giving us when it comes to making Diwali snacks is 'Khule haath se sab kuch daalo', which basically means don't hold back when it comes to adding ingredients like ghee or butter while making snacks. Generosity isn't always good, so hold back on the ghee and butter in order to avoid piling on those calories.
Bake it
Try baking or roasting your savouries this year instead of frying them. Baking is a much healthier option as compared to frying as it avoids all the excess fat and still keeps the flavour intact. Bake all your Karanji, bhajiyas and samosas!
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Healthy party snacks
Hosting a party this Diwali? Forget the potato chips and mayonnaise, serve ragi crackers with a hung curd dip instead. This will not only make your job a whole lot easier, but also help your guests to eat healthy amidst all the festivities.
Avoid store-bought goodies
All those laddu and chocolate boxes decorating the store shelves do look enticing, however buying them may welcome weight issues. Full of artificial flavours and preservatives, avoid store-bought goodies this festive season. Instead make your own at home. This way you know what goes into making them.
Say no to artificially sweetened drinks
Soft drinks or packed juices and sharbats contain a lot of unhealthy sugars. Making your own juices instead is a lot healthier and helps you keep a check on your sugar levels. You can serve it to your guests and encourage them to be a little healthier this Diwali.
Gift some healthy goodness
Make it a healthy Diwali by gifting quality products instead of boxes of greasy mithai. Dark chocolate, flavoured teas, organic coffee, assorted nuts and healthy energy bars make for great gifts and are a lot better.
