Karwa Chauth is a significant annual festival in India as women observe a day-long fast and pray for their husband’s long lives. As part of this fasting ritual, the pre-dawn meal, known as Sargi, plays a crucial role. The nutritious meal provides the energy required for a day-long fast, during which women refrain from food and water until they see the moon. Here are six foods that are perfect for Sargi and will help keep you energized throughout the fast.
Dry Fruits
Nutrient-dense and high in energy, dry fruits like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and raisins are packed with essential fats, vitamins, and minerals. They not only provide sustained energy but are also light and easy to digest. They help curb hunger pangs during the day while offering a quick boost of energy.
Also Read: 10 simple yet healthy dishes to include in Sargi Thali
Fruits
Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges are full of vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Bananas provide natural sugars along with potassium that maintain hydration levels. Oranges and apples are replete with antioxidants and vitamins that refresh you while also providing essential hydration.
Paneer
Paneer is rich in protein. Adding homemade paneer cubes to Sargi will keep you full for a long time as proteins take time to digest in the stomach. It can be eaten raw or combined with a healthy dish like paneer parathas or mixed into a simple salad. The other reason to include paneer in your diet is that it is full of calcium, which keeps the bones strong, especially when you are fasting.
Potatoes
Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates so they are meant to keep you full for a long time. So, you can also add aloo paratha or aloo sabzi to the Sargi since they contain starch-rich carbohydrates that allow for slower releases of energy throughout the day. The dishes are delicious, too, and provide some comfort to the pre-dawn meal.
Whole Grains
Whole grains such as oats, quinoa or even whole wheat can also help retain energy levels during the fast. Since they contain complex carbohydrates, they break down in the body over a period and do not result in any energy crash. Kick-starting your fast with a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat chapatis or a quinoa salad.
Yogurt or Alternative Dairy Products
Yogurt is refreshing, to say the least, but it also comes with probiotics that will help in digestion. It is a good source of calcium and protein that will keep hunger at bay. However, if you prefer dairy alternatives, then almond or soy yogurt are equally good. Pair it up with fruits for a nutrient-packed start to the day.
Sargi is more than a meal-it is part of Karwa Chauth's tradition that helps women stay nourished and energized throughout the day's fast. Including these six foods in your Sargi will keep you well-prepared for the rituals of the day.
Contributed by: Deepika Saharan, Clinical Dietitian and Nutritionist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals
Thumb and Embed Images Courtesy: istock
Dry Fruits
Nutrient-dense and high in energy, dry fruits like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and raisins are packed with essential fats, vitamins, and minerals. They not only provide sustained energy but are also light and easy to digest. They help curb hunger pangs during the day while offering a quick boost of energy.
Also Read: 10 simple yet healthy dishes to include in Sargi Thali
Fruits
Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges are full of vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Bananas provide natural sugars along with potassium that maintain hydration levels. Oranges and apples are replete with antioxidants and vitamins that refresh you while also providing essential hydration.
Paneer
Paneer is rich in protein. Adding homemade paneer cubes to Sargi will keep you full for a long time as proteins take time to digest in the stomach. It can be eaten raw or combined with a healthy dish like paneer parathas or mixed into a simple salad. The other reason to include paneer in your diet is that it is full of calcium, which keeps the bones strong, especially when you are fasting.
Potatoes
Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates so they are meant to keep you full for a long time. So, you can also add aloo paratha or aloo sabzi to the Sargi since they contain starch-rich carbohydrates that allow for slower releases of energy throughout the day. The dishes are delicious, too, and provide some comfort to the pre-dawn meal.
Whole Grains
Whole grains such as oats, quinoa or even whole wheat can also help retain energy levels during the fast. Since they contain complex carbohydrates, they break down in the body over a period and do not result in any energy crash. Kick-starting your fast with a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat chapatis or a quinoa salad.
Yogurt or Alternative Dairy Products
Yogurt is refreshing, to say the least, but it also comes with probiotics that will help in digestion. It is a good source of calcium and protein that will keep hunger at bay. However, if you prefer dairy alternatives, then almond or soy yogurt are equally good. Pair it up with fruits for a nutrient-packed start to the day.
Sargi is more than a meal-it is part of Karwa Chauth's tradition that helps women stay nourished and energized throughout the day's fast. Including these six foods in your Sargi will keep you well-prepared for the rituals of the day.
Contributed by: Deepika Saharan, Clinical Dietitian and Nutritionist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals
Thumb and Embed Images Courtesy: istock
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