6 Ways to Celebrate the Festival of Lights in a Healthy Way

The festival of lights is just around the corner and we can’t wait to celebrate with our loved ones. We are sure many of you must already have been done with your Diwali preparations and shopping which include decorating the home with lights and lots of sweets, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Amidst the festive fervour, a little indulgence here and there seems nearly harmless. However, overindulgence is something that needs to be checked.

To keep track of your overindulgence on your favourite sweets and delicious recipes, we have 6 ways to celebrate this joyous festival of Diwali in a healthy way:

• Switch to homemade sweets rather than buying them from outside: We all know sweets are a must for Diwali but it would be a healthy option to make these sweets at home. This way you would know how much sugar, nuts, ghee, and all other ingredients you want to add keeping your portion size in check. Your kids will understand about old traditions of homemade sweets and you can enjoy sweets without worrying about those extra inches that you might gain.
• Plan on serving baked snacks instead of fried snacks: Frying not only adds extra calories because of the oil used but can also make you feel heavy and sluggish after consuming them. Choosing baked versions of your favourite fried foods allows you to indulge without guilt and without compromising on the taste. There are baked versions of tikkis, nuggets that can be prepared in the oven as well. Baked custard is also a good option to try this Diwali.
• Gift a nutty basket instead of packaged drinks: Think outside the box this Diwali! Gift something healthy to your friends and relatives like a basket full of roasted nuts instead of those monotonous gifts you give every year like packaged drinks. These drinks have added sugar and zero nutritive value. So, encourage your loved ones to be healthy and happy with these gifts.
• Do not miss your workout routines: Many people consider festivals and holidays as a good excuse to skip exercising but one should take out at least half an hour every day to exercise. HIIT is a popular short-duration workout that can be finished within 10-15 minutes. If you are exercising during Diwali festivities, well there is no reason you should be worried about your weight gain and other health issues.
• Have low carbs dinner: Had a long day of sweets and rich Diwali food? Give your body some time to digest all that food by having a low fat, and low carb dinner. You can do this by having a bowl of fruits or some low-calorie meal instead of another heavy meal before you go to bed. Also, make sure to drink lots of water a few hours before bed to regulate your elevated blood sugar levels.
• Avoid excessive intake of alcohol: We all know Diwali parties and hangovers go hand in hand. People often indulge in binge drinking at this particular time and it can cause dehydration which is the root cause of fatigue, nausea, indigestion, hangovers, and other health issues. Limit your alcohol intake and avoid mixing-up two different drinks for health concerns.

Over to you:
Festive indulgences made during this Diwali can, however, put your body through its paces. We have mentioned above a few ways that you can use to celebrate Diwali the healthy way this year.