Tips to Fast the Healthy Way

Tips to Fast the Healthy Way

Healthy Tips For Fasting During Navratri

To keep yourself hydrated, drink coconut water, buttermilk or lime water.

21st September 2017 marks the start of Sharad Navratri, which culminates into Dussehra. Each of the nine days of this festival are devoted to nine forms of Goddess Shakti. Navratri is a time of fasting, to cleanse the body and build its immunity for the next season. While at this time most people refrain from eating grains, pulses and meats, some also give into unhealthy indulgences just to satisfy those cravings. You may trick yourself to believing that you are following the rules of fasting, but you are actually doing more harm to your body with those fried snacks and greasy food.

Healthy Tips For Fasting During Navratri

Here are some expert tips to remain healthy while you fast -


1. It is better to eat small meals instead of starving yourself. The frequent meals help maintain blood glucose levels and ensure you are fuelled up to go through the day.


2. Unless you are doing a 'nirjal vrat' (fast where you don't even have water), keep yourself hydrated. It is recommended that you consume lots of water. Other fluids like coconut water, green tea, buttermilk and lemon water are also great.

buttermilk


3. Though a lot ofvrat recipes involve frying, try to bake, roast or grill vegetables to make your meal healthier.


4. It is a good idea to pair foods high in carbohydrates like potatoes and sabudana (widely used in fasting) with other fibrous vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes, spinach and cabbage.


5. Amaranth is a fantastic source of protein that you can include in your menu during fasting. You can whip up an amaranth porridge with milk or even stir it up as savoury daliya with lots of vegetables.

                   
6. Kuttu, a flour used abundantly in Navratri, is a wonderful combination of carbohydrates (70-75%) and protein(20-25%). You can make chapattis with it and steer off those oil laden pooris.


7. Samak rice is easy on your digestive system and you can enjoy it with your favourite sabzi like aam ki sabzi.


9. Got a sweet tooth? Those sugar cravings can be curbed by indulging in fruits, raita, dates, apple kheer or samak rice kheer.



10. Though a lot ofvrat recipes involve frying, try to bake, roast or grill vegetables to make your meal healthier.


11. It is a good idea to pair foods high in carbohydrates like potatoes and sabudana (widely used in fasting) with other fibrous vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes, spinach and cabbage.


12. Amaranth is a fantastic source of protein that you can include in your menu during fasting. You can whip up an amaranth porridge with milk or even stir it up as savoury daliya with lots of vegetables.


 13. Opt for roasted, boiled and baked meal to help you balance the effect of fried snacks you plan to eat.

14.  Considering the fact that kuttu flour is a combination of carbohydrates and proteins, having kuttu flour during this time is a good idea.

15.  If and when you want to eat ‘namkeens’ specially made for fasts, console yourself and guzzle up fruits or roasted nuts as your mid-day munchies.

16.  While your lunch could be a heavy one, the dinner should be kept light. Going for a green tea post dinner will give you the required brownie point.