After every festival, people often turn to restrictive diet plans and internet fads in a bid to get back in shape. Navratri is no different. Nine nights of garba and dandiya, late dinners after hours of dancing, and plates piled high with sabudana vadas, kuttu puris and rajgira sheera make for a festive indulgence. But once the nine holy days are over, the urge to undo all that mithai and festive feasting kicks in, sending many scrambling to try the latest diet trend.
In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, Roshni Sanghvi, holistic nutritionist and functional health expert at Clinic Living Plus, points out, “The irony is that many people are fasting during Navratri, but vrat food is not always light. Sabudana is mostly starch, and kuttu puris and aloo fries are deep fried. So people come out of nine days of ‘fasting’ feeling heavier than when they started. “People do not need a ‘ detox ’ at all. The liver is constantly detoxing the body. It simply needs support through the right food,” explains Roshni. “Detox is what naturally happens when someone leads a balanced life. There are Ayurvedic herbs that can help the liver’s detoxification work, but they come with side effects of their own when taken without supervision. Instead, she shares her top three suggestions for losing a few kilos after the festive season. “It is not about skipping meals or starving. It’s about consciously choosing food that nourishes your body,” highlights Roshni. This could be a smoothie or fruits for breakfast, a wholesome salad with sprouts or tofu for lunch, or even lettuce wraps for dinner. A sweet potato chaat with lemon, or a bowl of fruit with a sprinkle of roasted makhana, works just as well in the days right after Navratri. The body does not need to be punished with starving or over-training after every festival. It needs a little more movement, a little more nutritious food and a little more attention. Roshni suggests using the weeks after Navratri to build strength. “Try new recipes that are healthy and tasty at the same time, challenge yourself to move more and eat right, and stop forming negative associations with food. Make it a lifestyle change and you can enjoy every festival, all year round,” she concludes.
“Making one meal a day lighter but still fibre-rich keeps people full while eating fewer calories,” the nutritionist adds.
