Navratri, the nine-day devotion celebrated with puja rituals and fasting. That hunger is powerful but feels useless when you end up eating namkeen or aloo chips and sugary food. After a whole day of fasting, eating these fried foods undoubtedly tastes good and makes you feel satisfied, leaving you sluggish and low on energy. For nine days of puja rituals, garba, and dandiya, you need sustained energy. You think eating greasy food helps you feel fulfilled and is a good option. Let me correct you: vrat-friendly food doesn’t mean fried and heavy food but simple, light, and healthy. Therefore, I have brought you vrat-friendly light and healthy snacks you can eat during Navratri fast without draining your energy levels or any kind of guilt.
Snack Smart Options During Navratri Vrat
Try to eat meals on time without skipping to avoid energy crashes. Schedule your little meals throughout the day rather than one large meal because that may cause bloating. Let’s get started with the following snacking options -
1 - Samak Khichadi
You can easily cook delicious Samak khichadi by rinsing 1 cup of samak rice, then roasting it in a spoonful of A2 Bilona Ghee, cumin seeds, green chillies, and chopped vegetables. Add 2 cups of water and cook until soft and fragrant. Samak khichadi is a light snack made with vrat-friendly organic ingredients that gives you light and comforting options.
2 - Barnyard Millet Uttapam/Chilla
You can prepare a simple barnyard millet uttapam or chilla as a breakfast meal during Navratri fast. It’s very simple to make Barnyard Millet uttapam or chilla: soak barnyard millet for 2-3 hours, then blend it to a smooth paste, mix finely chopped vegetables, herbs, and spices, and salt. Spread on a hot pan greased with Aw ghee. Cook until crispy and golden brown, and it’s all done.
3 - Ladoo - Dry fruits, Honey/ jaggery powder
Dry fruit laddoo made with honey and jaggery is a great option for those sweet cravings during Navratri fasting. Preparation includes roasting 1.2 cups of dry fruits like almonds, cashew walnuts, pistachios, makhana can also be added in 1 tablespoon of A2 ghee. Grind them coarsely, adding 4 tablespoons of organic honey and ½ cup of jaggery powder. Mix them evenly and make small balls, and your dry fruit laddoo is ready.
4 - A2 Ghee Roasted Makhana
The easiest and crunchiest snack you can have during Navratri is the Makhana roasted in A2 Bilona ghee. Simply toss in ghee, roast well until crunchy and nutty, sprinkle some black or rock salt, and have it. It is low in calories, light on the stomach, but heavily loaded with nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
5 - A bowl of Fruit Chaat
You can have a bowl of fruit in a salad or chaat form during Navratri fast. Select seasonal fruits of your choice, cut them into pieces, put them in a bowl, and sprinkle them with sumac powder. Having a bowl of fruit chaat helps you stay hydrated, refreshed, and energetic as the natural sugar in these fruits gives you quick energy without crashing.
6 - Light Sabudana Khichdi
You can prepare non-fried, lightly sautéed sabudana khichdi, as most of the devotees prefer sabudana during the fast period. You can prepare sabudana khichadi with A2 ghee, peanuts, and cumin seeds- the comfort food you can have during your Navratri fast.
7 - Buckwheat (Kuttu) ka cheela
Made with mashed potato and light spices, you can prepare cheela which is so filling that it is enough for the day. It will support your fasting period with high-quality protein, fibre, and carbohydrates.
8 - Ghee Roasted Sweet Potato
Sweet potato gives instant energy and hence is a suitable option to eat during Navratri Vrat. So, you can boil and then roast sweet potato in A2 Bilona Ghee; you can sprinkle some black pepper and enjoy.
9 - Have Coconut Water
Drinking coconut water during Navratri fast is also a great idea as it is going to provide you with the required nutrients for the Navratri days. Coconut water provides electrolytes, which are going to give your body hydration and refreshment.
Why a Light, Healthy Meal Is Important During Vrat
Fasting doesn’t mean you have to compromise on nutrition and have to have heavy and greasy food, as your body still needs energy, protein, healthy fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals to function. Hence, choosing healthy snacks during Navratri vrat
- Helps you stay active the whole day
- Avoid unnecessary hunger or munching
- Helps reduce fried food cravings
- Get essential nutrients while fasting
Conclusion
With the above-mentioned healthy snacks, you can make your Navratri fast energising and less exhausting. This Navratri, swap those fried vrat snacks with lighter, healthy snack options such as Raw Foxnut lightly roasted in ghee to make it extra crunchy and nutritionally enhanced. This would be the best light snack option to get an energy boost whenever you feel low during the Navratri fasting. You'll notice a bigger difference in your energy than those who will have the same old fried and heavy vrat food. On top of all, using only high-quality, premium, and organic products can save you from any possible health issues, and I can genuinely recommend Shiva Organic to you; you are going to thank me later for sure.
FAQs
1 - Why Is Makhana A Healthier Snack Option During Navratri Fast?
Makhana is a healthy snack option that can be eaten during Navratri fasting due to its high nutritional value, including carbohydrates, protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
2 - Why Should I Avoid Deep-Fried Snacks During Navratri Fast?
You must avoid deep-fried snacks like fried sabudana vada, aloo chips, or namkeen during fasting because they may adversely impact your health by slowing digestion and causing a sudden energy crash.
3 - What Are The Lighter Snacks I Can Try During Navratri Fast?
You can easily try light and healthy vrat - friendly snacks like A2 ghee roasted makhana, coconut water, seasonal fruit salad or chaat, sabudana khichadi, and makhan kheer to stay energetic, functional, refreshed, and hydrated.
4 - Can I Eat Makhana (Foxnut) Every Day During Navratri?
Yes, you can definitely eat Makhana (Foxnut) all nine days because it is light enough to eat daily. You can have it just on its own, roasted with ghee, black pepper, and cumin powder, and in other forms, however you feel convenient to consume.
