We all wait for the Day of Eid after the holy month of Ramadan. While we must enjoy the tasty treats, here’s a quick guide about how you can stick to healthy eating and still make your taste buds happy !!
- Eat Breakfast at home. Choose from a fruit platter or home cooked poha / idli / dosa / eggs with whole wheat roti / roti wrap / Sheer Khurma.
- Eat Sevaiya / Sheer Khurma as a meal in itself and NOT after a meal. Have it as breakfast or a mid-morning or evening snack. If you are watching your weight you can cook it with toned cow milk and use brown rice sevaiya to make it fibre rich.
- If you are making Phirni at home use toned cow milk and add dates or figs instead of sugar which will make it healthier.
- Do not eat two heavy meals. A rich lunch is always better than a heavy dinner.
- For dinner choose Salads along with grilled kebabs of lean meats. If you have eaten a heavy lunch you can opt for a light dinner of soup with khichdi or whole-flour roti with dal and some kebabs or stir fry vegetables.
- Control your portion sizes and avoid taking multiple helpings. If you are invited for a meal where there is a large spread of food infront of you take 3 bites of everything but make sure you stop there.
- Start your meal with a curd based salad or a raita and then proceed onto the main course.
- For those who have high cholesterol levels, opting for chicken and fish is better than mutton.
- With gravies, avoid eating maida-based breads (refined flour) like pav, naan, roomali roti and opt for whole wheat roti.
- Make sure that you stay active and continue to follow your fitness regime.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day and stick to water and lime water with jaggery, a pinch of black salt and mint, very thin buttermilk with cumin seeds and remember to consciously avoid liquid calorie filled drinks like colas, energy drinks and sugary beverages.
- Share what you have with the less fortunate, when its still fresh and not stale.
Eid Mubarak to everyone around the world!
- This article is written by Sonam Rayani, founder of Jatropha Wellness, who is a Nutrition and Diet Consultant since last 11 years. She is also a Nutrigenetic Consultant and socially runs True Love Project that aims to bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots.
