Diwali Eats Healthified

Diwali Eats Healthified

Every Diwali I tell myself that I will not binge on sweets this time. The ones that are sold outside or commonly made in people's homes is everything opposite of what I prescribe in my diet sessions. It's not something I just preach, it's also something that I follow regularly; the occasional cheats are there of course. So I wanted a way out of eating these sugar, ghee, oil and maida loaded goodies. Of course, there's a lot more one can do but given the time constrains I managed to pull off four. 

I chose dates, a natural sweetener... and makhana the superfood for my sweet tooth. For savouries I chose the wholewheat chakli and chickpea sev. A good beginning to low fat and no-sugar festivity.

Dates n Nuts Roll

Ingredients

Dates (deseeded) – 1 cup

Mixed nuts (cut) – ½ cup

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp

Poppy seeds (Khus khus) – 3 tbsp

Ghee – 2 tbsp

Method

Coarse grind the dates in a mixie

Pulse four to five times and then grind

Keep aside

Dry roast the poppy seeds and keep aside

Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan and fry the nuts for a couple of minutes till crunchy

Heat 1 tbsp ghee and fry the dates paste in a non-stick pan on low flame with constant stirring

Continue till it becomes soft

Add the nuts, 2 tbsp poppy seeds and cardamom powder

Mix well and keep frying for 2 to 3 mins more till it forms dough like

Switch off the flame

Let it cool for a minute

Moisten your palms with the remaining ghee and knead it like dough and roll out to form a cylinder

Spread the remaining poppy seeds on the counter and roll the cylinder over it

Wrap the cylinder in butter paper or aluminum foil and keep in the frig for at least 4 hours (I had kept it overnight)

Remove and cut into thick slices

Enjoy as a healthy after-meal sweet

Makhana laddoos

Ingredients

Makhana (foxnuts) – 3 cups

Nuts (mixed) – 1 cup

Raisins – 2 tbsp

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp

Jaggery – ¾ cup

Ghee – 2 tbsp  

Method

Heat 1 tsp ghee in a non-stick pan and dry roast makhana for few minutes till crispy

Remove

Heat 1 tsp ghee again and roast the nuts till crispy

Switch off the flame

Cool

Crush ¾ of the makhana and keep aside

Crush the nuts and keep aside  

Melt jaggery in the pan

Add all the ingredients and mix well on slow flame till it comes together

Add the remaining ghee little at a time while mixing

Cool slightly and shape into laddoos

Enjoy as a healthy after-meal sweet

Whole wheat Chakli

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour - 1 cup

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Chili powder - 1 tsp

Ginger-Green Chili paste - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Asafetida - ¼ tsp

Oil - 2 tsp

Method

Mix all the ingredients

Add oil and mix to form crumbly mix

Add water and makeshift dough

Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees C for almost 30 mins

Make sure to turn them over after 15 mins

Monitor them well

Let cool in the oven

Lemon Pepper Sev

Ingredients

Besan (chickpea flour) - 1 ½   cup

Rice flour - ¼ cup

Lemon juice - 2 tbsp

Ajwain - ¼ tsp

Pepper powder - 1 tbsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Asafetida - ¼ tsp

Method

Mix all the ingredients

Add water to form soft dough

Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees C for almost 30 mins

Make sure to turn them over after 15 mins

Monitor them well

Let cool in the oven

Black Seed Crackers

Ingredients       

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Ghee - ¼ cup

Kalonji (Onion seeds0 – 2 tsp

Salt - to taste

Method

Mix flour, salt, kalonji seeds and ghee in a bowl to form a crumb mix

Make a tight dough by adding little by little water

Cover and keep it aside for 30 minutes

Divide the dough and roll out into the desired shapes

Bake in an oven preheated at 180 degrees C for about 20 mins depending on the thickness

Health Benefits of Dates

Rich in fibre; helps to cure constipation

Improves heart health

Contains isoflavones that are known to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases

helps in weight management

Has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels

Rich source of copper, magnesium, selenium and manganese – all of which are important for bone health

Rich in vitamin K a blood coagulant

Rich in potassium and helps lower blood pressure levels

Energy booster

Rich in vitamin A important for eye health

Contains vitamins C and D that work on skin elasticity and has anti-aging benefits

Rich in iron; promotes blood circulation to the scalp and promotes hair growth

Immune health

Health Benefits of Makhana

Antioxidant rich

Anti-ageing food; helps to prevent grey hair, wrinkles and premature ageing

High in fiber; helps to prevent constipation

Helps the body to flush out wastes and prevent accumulation of toxins

An aphrodisiac – helps in premature ejaculation and improving semen quality. Helps women in overcoming infertility

Low in saturated fats and sodium and high in magnesium and potassium; it helps to control high blood pressure and diabetes

Cures insomnia as it has calming properties

Helps to cure diarrhea and improve appetite

Health Benefits of Chick pea flour

High in fiber - improves blood sugar, lipid and insulin levels

Rich in iron, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K – all important for bone health

Its high fiber, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B-6 content all support heart health

Contains selenium which prevents inflammation and decreases tumor growth rates

Promotes satiety and decreases risk of obesity

Gluten free

  Health Benefits of Onion Seeds

Helps to in regulate blood sugar

Antioxidant rich

May lower cholesterol levels

Alleviates iInflammation

Could help protect the liver

May prevent stomach ulcers