India with its varied cultures, festivities abound. We just completed lord Ganesha’s festival and now Navratri, where we welcome Goddess Durga, starts from tomorrow, the 10th of October. With festivities come the problem of eating plenty and eating sweets. This Navratri let’s focus on eating healthy as it will help you detoxify your body and also cleanse your mind, leaving you with a great feeling.

Here are some healthy tips to relish this season:

1. Prefer small meals and do not starve yourself. Binge on fruits, nuts and juices whenever you are hungry and try to stay away from the sweets, this will help you maintain the glucose levels in the blood.
2. Hydration is the key to Detoxification. Drink lots of water and fluids like coconut water, lemon water, juices, green tea and buttermilk.
3. Indulging in fibrous meals helps to reduce the carbohydrate intake. Combine carbohydrate-rich foods like potato, sabudana (Tapioca Sago) with fibre-rich vegetables such as spinach, capsicum, cabbage, tomato, bottle gourd etc. Also, prefer healthy cooking methods like roasting, grilling or baking over deep frying, this helps in avoiding excess fat/oil consumption.
4. Protein need not be missed, when Amaranth (Daliya) is in the Navratri Include milk porridge or Namkeen daliya (Salted oats) along with the meals to add protein to your plate.
5. Kuttu (Buckwheat flour) is an excellent combination of carbohydrates (70-75%) and protein (20-25%). Preferring chapattis over pooris will help to avoid acidity or indigestion.
6. Samak rice (Barnyard millet) is another energy dense option which can be included in any quantity.
7. Defeating sugar craving with fruit raita (yoghurt), apple kheer, dates, porridge or Samak rice kheer will keep you guilt free.
8. Healthy snacking can help you get the required vitamins and minerals. Binging on roasted makhanas (fox nut), mixed roasted nuts, baked chips, and roasted peanuts is always better than consuming the fried Navratri Namkeens which are available in the market.
9. Substituting sugar with jaggery or honey is also a great option.
10. Opting for skimmed milk over full crème milk will help keep calories in check.

                                     HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR NAVRATRI:

 

BREAKFAST	MIDMEAL	LUNCH	TEA BREAK	DINNER
Dalia porridge	Coconut water	Grilled vadas with chutney	Green tea with mixed nuts	Paneer (cheese) tikka with vegetables
Fruits kheer	Lemon water	Kuttu roti, sabzi, raita and salad	Tea with roasted makhanas	Milk and fruits
Fruit shake with nuts	Fruit infused water	Baked sabudana Tikki, raita and veggies	Jasmine Tea	A bowl of vegetable and salad
Samak Rice Kheer	Fruit bowl	Samak rice with curd and veggies	Baked chips/ namkeen	Pumpkin and bottle gourd soup

Always prefer homemade meals and avoid “Vrat Special Thalis” (fasting food plates). It is a good way to avoid unnecessary oil and fatty foods. Have a healthy and fruitful Navratri this season and don’t forget to enjoy Garbha, as this dance form is an excellent cardio session.

We at GOQii wish you all a Happy Navratri.