Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : October 21, 2014 7:51 PM IST
We all know that Diwali and sweets go hand in hand. Right from the delicious Gulab Jamun to tasty mawa sweets and kaju katli, resisting these festive treats is a big deal for most of us. By gorging on these ghee-laden and sugar-loaded sweets, you might be doing more harm than good to your overall health. Although restraining oneself from binge-eating and staying hydrated might be a good idea to start with, staying away from sweets is really hard. For such sweet-loving individuals, here are few healthy sweet replacements by our expert Deepshikha Agarwal, a Mumbai-based dietitian and sports nutritionist you can try this Diwali.
Replace mawa sweets with shahi tukda
As soon as the Diwali season crops in, mawa sweets are one of the common sweet delicacies that are found in almost every house-hold. But according to experts, there is a healthy and tasty alternative to mawa sweets shahi tukda. This sweet is made from milk, bread and sugar and can be enjoyed as a scrumptious desert by every person in the house.
Replace Gulab jamun with rasgulla
We all love gulab jamuns and especially during Diwali these are one of the favorite sweets. But Deepshikha says, 'Gulab jamuns are fried sweets and thus, are not a healthy option to add to your list of Diwali foods. Instead, replace gulab jamuns with a healthier and tastier sweet like rasgulla.'
Replace moong dal halwa with doodhi halwa
Another widely consumed home-made sweet is Moong dal halwa that is not only easy to prepare, but also loaded with ghee. This delicacy can be replaced by a healthy-to-digest and more nutritious doodhi halwa. Apart from being filling your stomach, this sweet can be made at home and in a healthy way.
Replace kaju katli and barfi with healthy barfi
There might be hardly anyone who doesn't love the delicious and tasty kaju katli or barfi. Known for its rich taste, these sweets are high in calories and not a good idea to include them in your Diwali diet. Instead, opt for healthier and nutritious snacks like dates or anjeer (packed with iron and other minerals) barfi that are good for health.
Replace desserts and snacks with nutritious chikki
Diwali can be made healthy by making few changes to the normal diet. Instead of the calorie-rich, sugar-laden and made-in-ghee snacks and deserts, have sweets made from jaggery (a healthy sugar substitute) and those that are roasted. Some of the nutrient-rich and low-calorie snacks that you can try til Diwali are chikki made from sesame (til) or roasted peanuts.
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