Festivals and sweets have always gone hand in hand-Canva
Sammira Srivastava, mother of a 4-year old feels her anxiety peaks during the festive season.
What was once a symbol of purity and celebration now often carries hidden risks, ” says Mohit Sharma who believes his daughter eats too many sweets that he does not approve of during the festive season. It becomes difficult to control her hyperactive son who gorges on loads of sweets and chocolates that are gifted by friends and relatives. “I feel my entire year’s hard work goes for a toss and it becomes extremely difficult to control my child who is naturally attracted by these sugary treats. This problem is faced by not just mothers but most people who cannot resist the temptation of indulging in foods they stay away from the entire year. resisting them becomes impossible While a little bit of indulgence can be harmless but in most homes the primary gift item exchanged are mithais and chocolates and once they sit on your table. “Festivals and sweets have always gone hand in hand, but it may be time to rethink the tradition. Our grandparents’ generation led physically active lives that could absorb a few extra laddoos and barfis. On top of that, demand spikes every festive season, and so do reports of adulterated khoya, synthetic colours and substandard ghee in market-bought mithai.
Today, with long hours at desks, irregular routines and rising lifestyle diseases, the festive sugar rush takes a much bigger toll.
Co-founder, Gladful, “One of the simplest ways to manage festive eating is to start the day with a mix of protein and healthy fat, according to Parul Sharma. We have to accept that food will form an important part of festival gifting always. So the best solution is to buy food which is healthy. Fruits, healthy snacks, preservative free protein bars, spiced nuts and roasted namkeens and dry-fruit mithais can be an ideal option. A breakfast such as eggs cooked in a little ghee, a lentil chilla with curd, paneer with a glass of milk, or a ragi dosa with a nut chutney helps children feel full and satisfied for much longer. When satiety prevails, they reach for sweets and quick carbs far less often, and festive treats become something to enjoy rather than something to chase. A breakfast made mostly of refined carbs, such as white bread or a sugary cereal, tends to do the opposite, with hunger and cravings returning within a couple of hours. Keeping nuts, paneer cubes, fruit or roasted makhana available between outings works in the same way and gives children other options when they are hungry. The idea is not to prevent them from enjoying sweets, but to ensure that treats do not become a substitute for proper food. Clean food: Look for labels and pick up brands that offer clean and nutritious food that are not loaded with salt, seed oils, sugar and preservatives
