Lord Ganesha is known to be the ‘Vighnaharta’ or the remover of obstacles, and hence, people seek his blessings before beginning any new task. For this reason, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most prominent Hindu festivals in India.
From the frolic and fun to the mouth watering sweets including modak, this festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha. Although the foodie inside anyone can awaken during the festivities, it is equally important not to let your health take a backseat, especially in case of diabetics. Binging on sweets can lead to high sugar levels which can have long term complications. We have curated a list of 5 easy ways to manage diabetes during Ganesh Chaturthi-
1. Portion size is the key
The key to effective diabetes management is portion size, and that applies to all types of food. Therefore, while you are indulging in desserts and sweets, keep in mind the portion size. One of the ways to do that is by sharing the sweets with someone.
Another thing to keep in mind during festivities is timing. It is best recommended to keep a gap of 4 hours between your desserts. This can not only help in managing diabetes during festivities but also won’t let you overindulge in sweets.
2. Eat healthy sweets made out of natural sugar
Another way to enjoy this festival is by opting for healthy desserts made out of natural sugar. Although sugar in its natural form is also not recommended for diabetics. It is still better to consume processed sugar due to it’s composition of fibre and other nutrients. Modaks made out of jaggery, dates or figs can be a substitute for sugar-coated modaks.
Jaggery is known to be rich in iron and helps in cleansing the toxins present in the body. Likewise, figs are another great sugar substitute that provides energy to the body.
3. Don’t forget your long-term goals
Festivities are a time when we often forget our long-term health goals. Therefore, remaining careful during festivals and adopting a healthy lifestyle throughout will help you in effective diabetes management. Do not skip your workouts or give up on your food choices with an excuse of festivities. Instead, it is best to exercise more during these festivities to keep your sugar levels in check.
It is also essential to understand that only remaining thoughtful about your food choices during festivals can’t be sufficient. If you are not adopting a healthy lifestyle throughout the year, it will not be possible to fulfil your long-term goals.
4. Gorge on healthy food
There are a lot of people who gorge on unhealthy foods during Ganesh Chaturthi. From modaks and puri-bhaji to aloo wadi and puran polis, it becomes difficult to keep away from these delicacies. However, to keep your health intact, it is equally important to choose and gorge on healthy foods.
One way of doing this is by replacing your unhealthy food with healthy food. For instance, if you are indulging in desserts, then make room for a healthy lunch or dinner. As mentioned above, opting for desserts made out of natural sugar can keep your sugar levels under control.
5. Monitor your sugar levels at regular intervals
Just because you are enjoying Ganesh Chaturthi does not mean you will not monitor your sugar levels. In fact, your sugar levels can fluctuate more often during the festivities. It is advisable to check your bloodsugar levelsbefore and after a meal to see if you can eat a dessert after that or not.
Ganesh Chaturthi and Diabetes Management
Now that you know the ways of managing diabetes during the festival, here are a few tips to make the festival healthier:
– Modaks are one of the most prominent sweets during Ganesh Chaturthi that can’t be left uneaten. Although the dessert is steamed and not fried, one way of making it healthy is toreplace sugar with jaggery.
– When making puris to eat with shrikhand or potato curry, it is advisable tobake it instead of deep-fryingthem.
– One of the most typical dishes of Maharashtra is puran poli. Made out of yellow or red gram along with coconut, jaggery, and ghee, the dish is a sweet flatbread. To make it healthy, one can substitute with wheat flour and minimize the quantity of ghee.
As mentioned above, Ganesh Chathurthi celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Likewise, let us also work towards our goal of health and not let diabetes management become an obstacle during our celebration.
