Raksha Bandhan is synonymous with celebration, family gatherings and, of course, an abundance of food and mithai. From boxes of sweets exchanged as gifts to plates passed around during family get-togethers, it is almost impossible to imagine the festival without them. But celebrating mindfully does not mean giving up mithai altogether.
With a few smarter ingredient swaps, homemade recipes and mindful portions, you can enjoy the sweetness of Raksha Bandhan without compromising on your health goals. HT Lifestyle spoke to Eshanka Wahi – Dubai and Delhi-based culinary nutrition and holistic wellness coach, and the founder of Eat Clean With Eshanka – who emphasises, “Festivals can be enjoyed without having the guilt of eating sweets. You don’t have to remove mithai completely, but can make healthier choices with the ingredients, preparation and portion size. Making mithai at home gives you greater control over the ingredients, cooking methods and amount of added sugar. The wellness coach shares seven homemade mithai options that allow you to enjoy the festive sweetness while bringing more nutrient-rich ingredients to your celebrations. Eshanka recommends preparing sweets at home whenever possible. She explains, “Making mithai and sweets at home gives you the advantage of knowing exactly what is going in. It’s all up to you how much and which ingredient you want to use in your recipe. Watching your sugar intake doesn’t mean turning Raksha Bandhan into a mithai-free celebration. Enjoy sweets in moderation, choose nutrient-rich ingredients and make them at home when possible. Dates, nuts, seeds, makhana and whole grains can make traditional mithai more wholesome without taking away the festive sweetness. “The goal isn’t to make mithai healthy enough to eat endlessly. It is about making a more thoughtful choice while keeping the taste, tradition and joy of Raksha Bandhan intact,” concludes Eshanka.
