Let’s just address the elephant in the room – we can’t always eat healthy. It’s simply not possible; cravings hit you at the most random moments of the day (remember that ice cream you wanted to eat when you got up at 2 AM? Or the pakodas you craved while seeing the monsoon season batting away on your windows? Yeah… that’s what this blog is about.)
It’s also true that all this junk food is incredibly tasty, but it’s also incredibly unhealthy. If you saw the effects on your body, you’d probably never touch any oily food again. But for now, let’s just settle for finding some equally delicious yet super healthy alternatives, and pairing it with mindful practices like a Yoga Class.
Some of these might be obvious, but they’re definitely worth mentioning. Note: reading this blog might significantly increase your hunger. So let’s dive in and find healthy ways to tone it down!
1. Potato Chips → Makhane (Fox Nuts)
I know how tempting that half-air-half-potato-chips packet is, but imagine how diet-conscious you’ll feel when you switch the packet for a katori of roasted makhane (bonus if they’re roasted in ghee + black salt… mouth-watering, right?).
The BETTER part? They’re rich in calcium, so you can even ditch (or reduce the frequency of) your supplements. You can also try chana jor garam for that exotic Indian masala feel!
2. Pizza → Whole Wheat Wrap
Who doesn’t love a pizza party? But one thing about pizzas is you’ll probably end up sharing it with someone – it’s not the same otherwise! You know what’s better? Some delicious homemade green chutney spread on a solid roti, stuffed with your favourite veggies – and of course, paneer, for that extra protein – and fried in a pan.
Same delicious satisfaction, nutrition requirements met, and it’s all yours for enjoying! Plus, your kids will love it (the “mom’s love factor” makes it 10x more finger-licking yum).
3. Cold drinks → Lemonade, Chaach
You probably already know the high amount of sugar concentration in cold drinks. You probably also know how amazingly refreshing homemade nimbu paani is. The truth: cold drinks might be temporarily refreshing, but they only end up as high calories.
On the other hand, an iced masala lemonade sweetened with honey or even a freshly churned homemade buttermilk sounds great. Instant refreshment? Check. Aids digestion? Check. Satisfaction of making something super easy, you can enjoy? Double check!
4. Ice Cream → Frozen Fruit Yogurt
Everyone loves ice-cream; kids, parents, grandparents, aliens… (who knows?) The point is, ice-cream is also heavily sugared and can spike up your calories. The better option: homemade frozen yogurts filled with the goodness of naturally sweet and yummy fruits. Simply blend dahi with fruits like mango, banana, strawberries, or even vanilla essence, add some honey if you like, and freeze for 3-4 hours.
5. Instant Noodles → Vermicelli
Admittedly, noodles are super easy to cook (even if it takes more than “2 minutes”). But they’re also loaded with sodium and preservatives, which harm your body. Instead, throw in some Indian noodles (vermicelli) in a pan, boil them, fry with some tomatoes, turmeric, ghee, and rai, for that special Indian twist. Feel free to add some vegetables of your own choice too – it’s your go-to meal after all! Same slurpy texture, healthier ingredients, and a personalised taste you just can’t get with packaged noodles.
6. Pakodas → Besan Chilla
Yeah, pakodas are fun, fluffy, and filling. But the class you feel while eating a chilla is unmatched. On a side note, chillas are also much more healthy than pakodas – the part where pakodas are deep-fried and drip oil might’ve revealed that.
Simply mix a batter of besan or moong dal (grinded to powder for easier mixing) and lay out a flat pancake-ish layer on the pan. When it’s properly cooked, stuff it with tomatoes, paneer, chutney, coriander, and anything else you might like, wrap up this stuffing and it’s ready to eat! It’s got the same besan and chatpata-ness as pakode, just a lot less oil, and a lot more veggies.
7. Chocolate → Dates
Every festival brings its own Kuch meetha ho jaaye, so what better sweet to eat than nature’s very own mithai? If you’re tired of eating the plain dates as they are, roll up some date laddus with almonds, cashews, and sesame seeds to feel that special festival wali mithaas – while getting natural nutrients. Dates also have anti-oxidants in them; sugar detox ek taraf, dates ke benefits ek taraf!
Takeaway
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless; it can come up in all shapes from casual snacks to whole meals, desserts, and even beverages. What matters is that you make the mindful choice of making nutrition-rich meals and rewarding your body with good food. But of course, just food can’t do miracles; try joining some Online Yoga Classes in Gurgaon (especially if you’re a Delhi-NCR resident), and join a community of healthy-eating, mindful people.
