It is difficult to resist the temptation of eating sweet delicacies. DNA finds out how you can gorge and yet keep tabs on your weight.
With the festival around the corner, it is difficult to resist the temptation of eating delicacies like laddus, kaju katli, karanji and chaklis. DNA finds out how you can gorge and yet keep tabs on your weight.
Diet is about moderation and being able to make correct food choices to remain healthy
Diwali is a season of feasting. It would definitely be torturous to control your eating and follow a strict diet. However, a few tips can help you enjoy the festival along with keeping weight gain at bay. Diet is always about moderation and being able to make correct food choices. You could definitely indulge in sweets and fried foods, but stick to a small piece of sweets (single piece) or limited portion size (1 bowl), once a day.
Always eat these food as individual items and not along with meals so the calories are well distributed throughout the day. Follow your regular meal timings, preferably eating every two hours.
Also remember to consume protein-rich food items like legumes, milk and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Whenever you indulge in fried food items or sweets, try to cut down the consumption of carbohydrates in the form of chapatti and rice. It is also essential to drink lots of water.
Another good solution to maintain your weight is by selecting low-sugar and low-fat food items available in the market. Dry fruits, especially almonds (4-5) and walnuts (2-3), could be healthy replacements for sweets. It is important to continue with your regular physical activity, which will help burn extra calories. Limit the indulgence only to the festive season and do not let it linger post-Diwali.
Avanti Deshpande, nutritionist
Preparing traditional Diwali sweets at home is always healthy
Nowadays, ready-made Diwali sweets are available in the market. Working couples don’t have the time to prepare traditional sweets at home. In fact, the sweets bought from shops are mostly found to be over-sweet, high on fats and blended with artificial flavours, sweeteners, preservatives, colours and taste enhancers.
Preparing traditional Diwali sweets at home is always healthy. Anyways, it is not a big deal to indulge in sweets for a few days. Nobody talks about the bad eating habits followed by many people on normal days like consuming junk food, ice cream, cakes, soft drinks, which are very high in calories. Then why make such a fuss about indulging in Diwali sweets.
Usha Shirke, senior citizen
If one indulges during festive days, burn those extra calories
by exercising
Those suffering from diabetes and heart ailments should stick to a low-calorie diet as a regular practice. Even senior citizens must take special care during festive days. One must consume fewer sweets or fried food items during the Diwali festival.
We also tend to eat more spicy and oily food during festive season, which should be clearly avoided. Even if one indulges during these festive days, it is advisable to burn those extra calories by exercising. Walking, jogging or cycling helps in burning calories rapidly.
Sometimes heavy eating can lead to acidity and bloating problems during the festivals. It has been observed that hypertension and heart-related ailments rise during these festivities due to exertion and sudden diet change. We are trying to create awareness by putting posters in hospitals showing alternative recipes that one can prepare during festivals, which are low in sugar and fats.
Dr Manisha Deokar, BAMS, consultant, Ayurveda and diet
Self-restraint is the best way to curb high-calorie intake
Nowadays, there are various alternatives available in the market for sweets and other delicacies that are sugar-free, fruit-based and less on fats. In reality, it all depends on an individual.
Self-restraint is the best way to curb high-calorie intake. With the festive fervour, we all tend to get carried away and indulge in binge eating. There is no real problem if we limit ourselves to festive delicacies and get back to a normal routine post-Diwali. It is advisable to eat in moderation and cut down on quantity. It is also advisable to processed food and white sugar.
Tushar Ramanan, business development manager, Venky’s Nutrition Division
Using jaggery to prepare sweets is a healthier option rather than white sugar
The only way to burn extra calories during festive days is by exercising. Using jaggery to prepare sweets is a healthier option rather than using white sugar and ghee. Sweets like nachni (raggi) or laddus made from millets like jowar and bajra are low in calories and healthy also.
One can also use cow’s milk instead of buffalo milk to cut down on fat content and calories. Soya milk is the best option available compared to buffalo or cow’s milk. Soya milk is rich in proteins, high in fibre and low in calories. Physical activities like gyming, yoga or massage during or post-Diwali is a healthy solution to get back in shape.
Dr Babu Joseph, director, National Institute of Naturopathy
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