Journalism of Courage
The October heat is upon us and so is the season of Navratri. The 9-day festival diet begins this weekend as we swoon to garba by night. Nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla suggests ways we can go the healthy way during this festive season and at the same time enjoy it too. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
If you make the effort to consume the right ingredients at the right time of the day, gaining fat during the festive season can be curbed. "Remember, sabudana khichdi must be consumed sparingly since it's high in calories. One can also consume steamed potatoes or arbi with spices and herbs — these are high in calories and hence must be consumed preferably in the first half of the day, and sparingly!" says Chawla. Focusing on high caloric food here wouldn’t be the best thing to do. Rather challenge yourself to eat differently, Chawla mentions (Source: Unsplash)
If you make the effort to consume the right ingredients at the right time of the day, gaining fat during the festive season can be curbed. "Remember, sabudana khichdi must be consumed sparingly since it's high in calories. One can also consume steamed potatoes or arbi with spices and herbs — these are high in calories and hence must be consumed preferably in the first half of the day, and sparingly!" says Chawla. (Source: Freepik)
Breakfast: Buckwheat (kuttu) upma or rajgira roti with a bowl of skimmed curd. (Source: Freepik)
Mid-morning: Low sugar and high-fibre fruits like apple, pear or papaya along with skimmed milk. (Source: Freepik)
Lunch: Buckwheat khichdi along with some lauki (bottle gourd) sabzi and pieces of skimmed milk paneer. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Evening: A portion of mixed nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts with some skimmed curd or skimmed milk. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Dinner: A bowl of skimmed paneer, rajgira roti and lauki raita. Sweet dishes can be made with skimmed milk plus stevia rather than whole milk and sugar. Consider lauki or buckwheat kheer or halwa. Sprinkle a little jaggery powder to elevate the taste. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Cheat sheet * Steam instead of frying * Consume sugar substitutes instead of sugar * Minimise high-calorie foods like sabudana, makhana and arbi * Have whole fruits instead of dried fruits* Ensure 2-3 servings of protein in the form of skimmed dairy products * Stay hydrated at all times * Dairy products can be consumed only if they align with your gut. Please don’t consume it if you are allergic or intolerant to it. You use vegan protein powders instead. (Source: Freepik)
