Harsh Kanchan
Ever thought of gifting your loved ones tiny cute herbal offshoots that they can grow in their houses, use for cooking healthier meals and generally use for their aesthetic presence? It is that time of the year when the bazaars can be seen buzzing with people, attractive gift hampers lining the shops, chocolate hampers loaded with artificial sugars and preservatives, long queues seen outside jewelry and sweet shops and houses decorated with shimmering lights. Diwali is also a festival to reconnect with our near and dear ones. Gifting is a big part of this exercise. But how about we take a break from the regular mindless gifting that we engage in, with store-bought sweets and gifts packaged in plastic and other environmentally unfavorable material. This time, how about some gifting ideas that do both-increase your health quotient and reduce your carbon footprint.
Here are a few ways to make this Diwali special by giving and treating your loved ones with more meaningful gifts and super healthy yet equally yummilicious Diwali snacks.
1.Eco-friendly tissue culture sets and plant seeds
With so much of pollution around and people mostly giving gift hampers of cola cans, chocolates and namkeen packed in colored plastic and stuffed with unhealthy calories, you can do better. A gift which is eco-friendly and leaves a lasting impression is ideal. If your parents or relatives are of a pious nature, giving Tulsi seeds and saplings in an earthen pot could be a memorable gift.
Gifting offshoots of herbal plants carrying enormous health and environmental benefits that people can grow in their houses is another novel idea to implement. Herbs like Brahmi, JalBrahmi, Madhyakshi, Ashwagandha, Neem among others in small test tubes [packaged in an attractive vase/box] could be another novel gift. They do not require water initially and could be placed on the office table or indoor for 1-2 months, and can be then put in a larger pot.
2. Healthy sweets you can make at home
Normally people like to gorge on fried stuff and sweets on Diwali. They think of detoxifying their bodies once the festival is over. What if we tell you that you can prepare yourself beforehand and not feel guilty about indulging on Diwali. We share two recipes that you can try at home and gift your loved ones a healthy Diwali this year.
Moong Dal Laddu
This recipe is packed with nutrients like potassium, magnesium and fiber. The presence of abundant antioxidants in it reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Mung beans contain soluble fiber and resistant starch, which promote digestive health. The carbs in mung beans are also less likely to cause flatulence than those of other legumes. Mung beans are high in folate, iron and protein, which also help women during their pregnancies. Mung beans are high in fiber and protein, which can help you lose weight. By curbing your appetite, they may help slash your calorie intake, which aids weight loss.
Ingredients:
Yellow Moongdal 1 cup
Brown sugar 3/4 cup
Cardamom powder 2 pinch
Nutmeg 1 pinch
Almonds 1/2 cup
Pista 2 tbsp
Cow ghee 2 tbsp
Procedure:
Roast Yellow moong dal till it is light brown in color.
Grind it in a grinder.
Grind almonds and pista coarsely,
Melt ghee in a wok
Mix all the ingredients in ghee and make small laddus.
Keep them aside to set and they are ready to be relished
Note – Brown Sugar can be replaced with jaggery powder.
Date lemon cookies
The ingredients used in this recipe are likely to be a hit with children and with their moms for the health quotient. Oats are rich in fiber, easy to digest and healthy. Wheat flour is always a better option over white flour. All the dry fruits makes it rich. The combined flavour of lemon and ginger gives it a tangy healthy twist.
Ingredients:
Wheat flour 100 gms
Oats powdered 1 cup
Butter 1 cup
Brown sugar, powdered 3/4 cup
Dates 1 tbsp
Italian Lemon's Zest 1 tbsp
Ginger , grated 1 tsp
Hazel nuts 1 tbsp
Baking powder 1/2 tsp
Water if required
Procedure:
Roast oats.
In a big bowl, take butter and brown sugar and mix it till it becomes consistent.
Add lemon zest,ginger dates and hazelnuts.
Mix wheat flour, oats and baking powder
Add dry ingredients into the wet mix.
Mix well. Add water if required and freeze it for 1 hour.
After 1 hour give shapes to cookies and bake for 20 minutes on 140 degrees.
3. Light Mud Diyas
We often end up buying fanciful imported diyas available at cheaper rates in the market. However, nothing beats the simplicity and effectiveness of mud diyas. Not only do they provide livelihood to our indigenous artisans, they symbolize Diwali in its truest sense. Burning sesame oil in these diyas with cotton wicks adds to the beauty of the festival. Sesame oil is also great for your body and mind complex.
4. Be present:The gift of awareness
Diwali is not complete if you have not been able to let go of the past or if your mind is still worried, anxious and tensed about the future or holding on to remorse. “Diwali means to be in the present, so drop the regrets of the past and the worries of the future and live in the moment,” says Sri Sri Ravi shankar, founder of The Art of Living and global spiritual leader, “It is a time to forget the bickering and negativities that have happened through the year. It is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.”
5. Foster a closer bond and serve
Humans are wired to connect and this is linked to our health. There is no better festival than Diwali to reconnect with not just with friends and neighbours but also with those less privileged. Several studies, including a study by NCBI indicate that social connection has substantial impact on overall wellbeing from weight management, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. Sri Sri says, “Any celebration is incomplete without the spirit of service. Whatever we have received from the Divine we should share it with others, because it is in giving that we receive – that is true celebration.”
(With inputs from Dr. Prabhakar Rao, Trustee, Sri Sri Institute of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SSIAST) and Kaushani Desai, author of Sattva The Ayurvedic Cook Book and Art of Living's Ayurveda Cooking Expert)
