Celebrity Dietitian Rajat Jain, Founder of Health Wealth Diet Clinic, Jaipur
It is that time of the year when the festivities start to kick in with the onset of Navaratri that spans nine nights (and ten days) and is celebrated every year in the autumn. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian cultural sphere. Among the four seasonal Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri is the one that is most observed in the honor of the divine feminine Devi (Durga).
Celebrity Nutritionist Rajat Jain, answers 6 most frequently asked questions to him by his clients and friends around Navratri.
1 Are foods eatable during fasts diet-friendly?
Navratri foods are extremely limited to the content of spices. And who would doubt the shuddh shakahari sada bhojan to be unhealthy! Foods like makhane, peanuts, sabudana and fruit based sweets, and not to forget that ghee, are all good enough to balance with the diet.
2 Does fasting help you lose weight or make you weak instead?
Yes, if your fasts are taken care of with an appropriate diet plan that fulfils the necessary nutrition requirements, your weight loss will be healthy and not out of weakness! But, fasting does not mean you just go ahead and binge eats in order to be energetic on light foods. It will all make sense only when you have your calories balanced.
3 How to get enough nutrients from Navratri diet foods?
- For carbs you can have sabudana, kuttu ke atta ka stuffs, roasted makhana, peanuts, chiwda, etc.
- For protein you can have dairy products such as milk, paneer, etc.
- For healthy fats you can use ghee to cook all your foods
- And for the vitamins and minerals you can have fruits and veggies as per your religious fast culture.
- This way you can get all the required nutrition and feel full and energetic throughout the day.
4 How to manage hunger and food cravings during fasting?
Try to have most of the protein rich foods as protein helps you relieve hunger and makes you full for a longer period of time, as well as is a crucial element for weight loss.
5 Where to get protein from pure veg food apt for fasting?
Dairy products as milk and milk substitutes are highly rich sources for protein and well used while fasting as well. You can have paneer, milk, buttermilk, tofu etc for the protein rich diet.
Along with this, some amount of protein can also be found in nuts like almonds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
6 Will fasting have a negative impact on all the progress you’ve made in your body?
You might feel that a change in diet for certain days have changed your entire hard work but no if you stay consistent and just give your body and diet this little break as in to enjoy the festival let’s say, no it won’t affect much! You all have cheat days too anyway.
So, this Navratri, forget all your fears and diet like a boss. Ask your closest and trusted nutritionist to customise a diet for your specific body type and get going.
