Rein in your sweet cravings this Diwali, say nutritionists

NAVI MUMBAI: Festivals translate into an over indulgence of sweets and Diwali is no exception. How does resist those mouth-watering sweets and those deep fried snacks.
Festivals and sweets always go hand-in-hand but unfortunately sweets cannot be part of a healthy diet. “It is important to stop sugar cravings during festivals. This is not only bad for your waistline but also the digestive system,” said nutritionist Dhvani Shah.
According to Shah, the trick is to never skip a meal, especially the breakfast. “Skipping meals means starving yourself and when hungry you tend to reach out for the sweet and sugary stuff. Having proper meals will keep you full and stop cravings,” she said.
A protein powder can be added to the milkshake or smoothie, Shah said. “One can also eat eggs, meats, beans and other protein-rich foods to stop sugar cravings,” she added.
Clinical nutritionists and dieticians suggest opting for healthier, home-cooked foods during the season. “Ideally one should eat food prepared in wheat rather than maida, baked rather than fried and sweetmeats prepared from brown sugar or organic jaggery. Also it is important to exercise during these days. In fact one should exercise more, since even small quantities of food eaten during the festival season are rich in calories,” Shah added.
“Usually people tend to ignore their regular routine. But they don’t realize that even eating a small portion of something sweet requires double the exercise time. It is also important for one not to skip out on any meal. It is definitely better to eat small and regular meals rather than miss out on a meal altogether,” she added.