Ten Tips to Cut Calories during Diwali

Diwali is known as the "festival of lights," but it is also a time when our diet suffers. Tempted by delicious-looking mithai, crunchy namkeens, and other calorie-dense delicacies, we watch as our good eating habits slip and the festive pounds add on.

While we encourage you to celebrate a guilt-free Diwali by letting yourself off the hook and taking a break from the rigorous diet limits, if you still want to prevent overindulging and control sugar level, we propose trying these healthy hacks:

1. Don't indulge your sweet tooth

It would be a crime to avoid sweets totally throughout the holiday season, so limit yourself to a single piece or a small bowl daily. When shopping for Indian sweets, look for laddoos, mithais, and other items produced with sugar alternatives or dates that are readily available on the market.

2. Make handmade treats with low-calorie components

Avoid store-bought mithai, which can be too sweet, heavy in fat, and include artificial flavours. Instead, make your own sweets.

To celebrate a healthy Diwali, replace some high-calorie components with healthier alternatives in your own recipes. For example, using jaggery (gud) to make sweets is healthier than using white sugar. Using natural sugar replacements on the market is also an option. Ragi, jowar, and bajra are low in calories, nutritious, and produce delicious laddoos. Replace whole milk with low-fat milk; cow's milk or soya milk are also better options, particularly the latter, which is strong in protein and fibre and low in calories.

A dietitian can help you even more by offering you with a complete Diwali diet chart. 

3. Remain hydrated

Drinking water at regular intervals will make you feel full and prevent you from overeating. Sugary drinks, such as sweetened chai and soft drinks, are popular around Diwali. Instead, try herbal teas or infused water with mint, lemon, or cucumber. These hydrated and tasty alternatives don't have additional sugars. Herbal teas can help improve digestion, which is useful after holiday meals.

4. Limit your portion sizes

Even individuals who are strict about their diets may be challenged by the sight of a holiday feast. If you can't control what you eat, limit how much you eat. Begin by selecting a modest dish to serve yourself; studies have shown that oversized plates lead to overeating.

5. Focus on fibre-rich foods

Fibre keeps you feeling full without making you gain weight. Eat more veggies such as lauki, legumes, and complete grains. Also, because you'll be consuming fried foods and sweets, limit your daily carbohydrate intake, such as chapatti and rice.

6. Eat before you go out

This may be strange, but it ensures you don't reach for every barfi or kabab that comes your way.

The idea is not to arrive hungry; instead, choose something healthful and full, such as an oats-chila, and you'll find it easier to resist temptation.

6. Think before drinking

Diwali is synonymous with parties. Before you raise your glass, keep in mind that alcohol is generated by fermenting sugar and starch, thus drinking a lot of it equals consuming a lot of sugar and calories. Keep in mind that a 12-ounce glass of beer contains around 150 calories, a 5-ounce glass of red wine contains approximately 125 calories, and a 1.5 ounce shot of gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, or tequila contains approximately 100 calories. Drink wisely.

Choose your drink sensibly; avoid creamy cocktails and stick to wine spritzers and light lager.

7. Avoid talking while eating

While speaking with family and friends, you're unlikely to notice that you're eating too much and too fast. If conversation distracts you, chew slowly to avoid overindulging. Chewing food five to 10 times gives the brain more time to determine when we've had enough.

8. Opt for nuts among other dry fruits

A tray of festive meals typically includes mithai, namkeen, and dried fruits. So, when given a choice, go with nuts like almonds and walnuts.

Watching what you eat is critical to controlling your calorie intake over the holiday season, but burning the calories you consume is just as vital. You can also calculate calories to be in a calorie-deficit diet. So don't skip your workouts. If you don't have a regular schedule, set aside half an hour each day to walk, jog, or cycle because cardio is the quickest way to burn calories.

9. Select your snacks wisely

Enjoy your favourite Diwali goodies in moderation. Choose one or two items that you actually appreciate and relish rather than endlessly munching on everything available. Pay close attention to your meal and appreciate every bite. This will allow you to recognize when you're full and avoid mindless munching.

10. Keep moving

During the Diwali season, get moving by dancing, doing yoga, playing games, or going for a stroll. This will keep you motivated to keep up a healthy diet and help you burn calories.

Conclusion

Savour the delectable Diwali cuisine with one another. Monitoring your meals for weight loss, portion control, and choosing nutritious foods are all small adjustments that can have a big impact. Choose wisely to enjoy life to the fullest and maintain your health. For additional diet advice, go to TruePal.

FAQs

1. How do I simply burn Diwali calories?

If you want a simple, at-home solution to lose weight. Grab a jump rope and start hopping! This activity is not only fun but also beneficial for cardiovascular health and calorie burning.

2. How can I shed weight during Diwali?

Six simple diet and fitness modifications to shed Diwali

1. Remove any junk food.
2. Include additional protein in your diet.
3. Walk at least 8,000 to 10,000 steps every day.
4. Drink 3–4 litres of water.
5. Sleep for eight straight hours.
6. Exercise for 30 minutes per day.

3. Can I eat eggs at Diwali?

Yes, you can eat eggs on Diwali. There is no rule for it anywhere. Even within the same caste or community, individual families have distinct styles. Some families would eat on Diwali day, while others will feast the following day.

4. What not to eat during Laxmi Puja?

Avoid eating meat or big meals after sunset, as this is thought to upset Goddess Lakshmi.

Lakshmi Puja is believed to bring money, advancement, and spiritual prosperity. To seek the Goddess' blessings, people serve kheer or barfi as a 'bhog' and perform aarti or light up the residence with a diya every evening.

5. What are the five fruits of Lakshmi puja?

The goddess is worshipped by offering fruits, coconut, banana, doob-grass, amla, curd, turmeric, flowers, incense, and so on.