Healthy Diwali - 2017 Style

The traditions of giving gifts in Diwali is really adorable, eating healthy snacks and sweets can lead to a happy life, using products like Air Purifiers can be a good idea especially during festive season but there is one more thing that we can do, ban or no ban, we can moderate our celebratory spirits, we can as a matter of fact, reduce the use of firecrackers and can enjoy couple of 'fuljhadi' instead of deafening bombs.

Here I am sharing fews ideas that will make your Diwali healthy and safe. 

Healthy Sweets

Diwali celebrations are incomplete without indulging your sweet tooth in traditional Indian sweets. Nothing adds life  to festivities as boxes and boxes sweets and usually it turned out unhealthy for you. Don’t worry. This Diwali, indulge in some delicious low-calorie sweets. 

Apple Basundi

Ingredients:

Toned milk: 500 ml

Saffron (kesar) strands soaked in 2 tablespoon of warm milk: 7-8 strands (if not available, use a pinch of turmeric for color. Avoid artificial food colors.)

Cardamom (elaichi) powder: ¼ teaspoon

Freshly grated apple: 1 cup

Chia seeds (soaked in 2 tablespoons of milk): 1 teaspoon

Sugar substitute: 4 sachets (1 gm each)

Lime juice: 1/2tsp

Almonds and pistachio: 2 pieces each

Method:

1. Bring the milk to a boil in a broad-bottomed non-stick pan. Reduce the flame and cook on a low flame for approximately 1 hour (till the volume is reduced to half ), stir occasionally

2. Add 3 sachets of sugar substitute and cook on a slow flame for approximately 25 minutes (or till the milk thickens), stir continuously

3. Add the cardamom powder and cook on a low flame for another 20 minutes.

4. Switch off the flame and let it cool

5. Heat a small non-stick pan. Add the grated apple, 1 sachet of sugar substitute and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.

6. Remove from flame and when cool, add it to the milk mixture with soaked chia seeds.

Serve chilled, garnished with slivers of almonds and pistachio

Lauki Kheer

Ingredients:

Grated Bottle Gourd (Doodhi/Lauki): 1 cup

Skimmed milk: 150ml

Jaggery: 2 teaspoon or natural sweetener (sucralose)

Cardamom Powder (Elaichi Powder): ¼ teaspoon

Method:

1. Mix the milk and grated bottle gourd in a deep non-stick pan

2. Cook on a medium flame for 10 to 12 minutes or till the gourd is fully cooked, stir occasionally

3. Add jaggery to this mixture, and cook on medium flame for 2 minutes

4. Add cardamom powder and stir well

5. Keep the pan aside until it cools off completely and then refrigerate it for at least 1 hour

Lauki Kheer is ready to be served. Garnish nicely.

Quinoa Phirnee

Ingredients

Quinoa: 1 cup

Hot water: 1 cup

Sugar substitute: ¾ cup

Cardamom powder: 1 teaspoon

Skimmed milk: 2 cup

Condensed milk: ½ tablespoon

Ghee: ½ tablespoon

Almonds: 2 pieces

Method:

1. Heat ghee in a saucepan

2. Once the ghee becomes warm, add quinoa to it. Roast the quinoa till it becomes light brown. Add 1 cup hot water and bring it to boil

3. Once the water is reduced to half, add 2 cups of hot milk to it

4. Let the quinoa and milk mixture come to boil. Reduce the flame and let it simmer for 7-8 minutes till perfectly cooked

5. Add sugar substitute and cardamom powder. Stir well and cook

6. Add condensed milk. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the flame

Serve hot. Garnish with nuts

Healthy Drinks

It’s not just sweets that make you put on unwanted weight, mindless snacking and drinking sugary beverages can add unnecessary calories and result in disastrous health outcomes. Here are some options for you to make it a Healthy Diwali.

Drink More Water: It’s always the best healthy choice to satisfy your thirst. Drinking water throughout the day keeps you hydrated, feel energetic and alert. Drinking water before meal also keeps you feel full for a longer period, reduces appetite and helps with weight loss.

Fruit infused water: Fruit infused water drinks are not only refreshing, they will also help you stay hydrated, detox your body and promote weight loss. Just pick whatever fruit you want - orange, lime and lemon, mint and cucumber, strawberries and pineapple, ginger and lemon. There are some amazing combinations available. Click here to know more: Fruit Infused

Smoothies: Smoothies are so delicious, and you won’t even realise you’re sipping on a real food packed with essential nutrients. There are a number of smoothie recipes that will beat bloat, keep hunger pangs in check, and help you lose weight.

Homemade iced tea: Swap sugary soft drinks for delicious flavored iced tea that will leave you refreshed and help you maintain a healthy weight. Iced tea is very healthy and easy to make as well. Just add some tea bags to a pitcher of fresh water and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Steep green tea for 6-8 hours, and for black tea you can steep for 8-12 hours. You can add lemon or other fruits to improve the taste.

Healthy Lifestyle

There are many things that you should practice, especially during Diwali and other festivities. Here, I am giving your some healthy lifestyle options that will help you for sure.

Choose the right cracker for your kid

If your kid is below 5 years of age never hand him/her a sparkler. Sparklers are 5 times hotter than cooking oil. Buy crackers only from good and renowned brands. If you have a slightly older child, accompany your child while lighting crackers like flower pots, chakris, sparklers etc. If they are bursting atom bombs or rockets make sure you stand by them and keep them under your supervision.

Things to prepare before your burst your crackers

a.Have 2 buckets of water and sand in the vicinity. 

b.Choose an open place free from trees, vehicles and thatched roofs in the neighborhood

c. Keep the pets safe in the house 

d. Use eye protection glasses and gloves

e. Keep a first aid box ready in case of emergency

Candle and Diya safety

Use the candle to only to light your agarbathis and sparklers and not any of your crackers. Make sure the candle is far from all the inflammable crackers and articles. Fix the candle firmly on the ground and away from kids and pets.

If possible use, Soy Wax candles to reduce the effect on environment. 

Smoke Protection

Respiratory ailments are going to see a jump in any city. These include allergies, asthma and pollution, caused not only by firecrackers but the number of people driving around delivering Diwali goodies. Asthma patients should avoid firecrackers. If you can't stop yourself, organize an aerial-firecracker display early in the evening, start 7-ish before the air gets clogged with smoke. Keep your inhaler and asthma medication nearby before and after Diwali. Use air purifier to avoid any respiratory problems. 

(I am using Aura by Kent and it is really helping me a lot. I recommend this product to everyone, because pure breathable air is not luxury but necessity.)

Learn more about Air purifier and related research: http://www.reviews.com/air-purifier/

Hope you find this post helpful. Have a happy and safe Diwali. Share the post and comment below if you want to read more such posts!

Mugdha