Dr Batra Shares Healthier Alternatives To Traditional Diwali Sweets That Are Still Delicious

These small healthier alternatives will satisfy all your sweet cravings and improve your overall health. Happy Diwali!

Diwali is best known as the season to devour lavish sweets and celebratory feasts. Although these classic treats are pleasant, they can adversely influence our health in the long run. Instead of sacrificing health, why not choose mouthwatering treats with double the nutrition this Diwali?

Dr Archana Batra, a Dietician and a Certified Diabetes Educator, recommends innovative techniques for satisfying cravings without jeopardising physical well-being.:

1. Nuts and Dates Ladoos Most sweets contain refined sugar in large quantities, which might be bad for our health. Hence, to reduce sugar intake and make the lads healthier, it is better to use nuts and dates to make them taste just as delish. Mix dates with nuts of your choice, roll them into little balls, and cover with coconut flakes or more crushed nuts if preferred, or eat them as is. This alternative is high in fibre and good fats.
2. Chia Seed Pudding This simple but addictive chia seed pudding might be one of your favourites. It comes together in no time. Add chia seeds to the milk you choose with honey to sweeten it, and keep it in the fridge overnight to set. Before consuming, add nuts or cut-up fruits. This healthier alternative, high in fibre and omega-3 fatty acids, will keep you going for more servings.
3. Coconut Jaggery Barfi To make this delicious but easy recipe, you only have to mix jaggery with some water, then add grated coconuts and wait until it thickens. Add a pinch of cardamom powder. Place it on a greased plate, let it cool, and cut it into squares to serve! Not only is this a beneficial alternative, but it is also high in fibre and good fats.
4. Homemade Kaju Katli This recipe involves soaking cashews in water for a couple of hours, blending them into a paste, and sweetening them with jaggery, as desired. Add cardamom powder, roll the paste between parchment paper, and cut it into the classic kaju katli diamond shapes. Now, enjoy the decadence of kaju katli without the added sugar.
5. Oats and Coconut Ladoos If you think oats are boring, this dish will change that. Make this dish using grated coconuts, cooked oats, and more jaggery or honey as you prefer sweetness. Roll them into small ladoo-shaped pieces and set them in the fridge. They are decadent and extremely high in fibre, keeping you full longer.
6. Besan Cookies Instead of making cookies with all-purpose flour, try making them with good old besan or whole wheat flour, with honey or maple syrup for sweetness instead of sugar. This will be lighter, have lots of protein, and can be baked quickly. You can make them more flavourful with nuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
7. Fruit Chaat or Custard Satisfy your fruit chaat or custard cravings with something nourishing and vitamin-rich. Use fruits of your choice, like apples, grapes, bananas, dragon fruits, or kiwis, and dig in with a touch of chaat masala! This snack is low in calories, naturally sweet, refreshing, and guilt-free.

Dr Archana Batra's Tip:Making Diwali sweets healthy doesn't need to be a hassle. Try adding more whole grains, dates, nuts, and fruits to the dishes to make them high in good fats and fibre.