Holi is the festival of colours! You can paint the town red... yellow, pink or even blue and nobody will stop you. This is the only day you get to tick people off; with colours, water balloons and yummy Holi snacks. You see, it's a stated fact that celebrating Holi would never be deemed complete without indulging in some heavenly Holi treats. Be it those festive Gujiyas, soul-chilling Thandais or general Indian snacks such as samosas, dahi vadas and so on. Everything adds a little more to the festive vibes.
However, these Holi snacks can make a serious dent in your fitness regime. They might taste like heaven but the final judgment might cost us love handles we can't handle!
The good news is, we have some healthy alternatives available to deal with the repercussions. These festive delicacies have the same flavours, the same punch and the same intensity of gastronomic pleasure, just without the guilt of having anything unhealthy. Behold, these delicious recipes of 8 healthy Holi snacks you can make at home.
1. Baked Gujiya
Going with the baked version of the fried deliciousness called Gujiya is a healthier alternative you need this Holi. It won't hamper the taste but simply add to the healthiness of the dish. To make it all the more fun, you can even fill it up with caramelized apples and other fruit-based options. This or that, you won't have to spend a single minute extra in the gym after having this. And as far as this recipe is concerned, you can relax. Not only it's softer and tastier but also free from Khoya and sugar. Moreover, this avatar can be stored for a longer period of time. Baked Gujiya, Packaging Size of 350gm can cost you around Rs 280/pack.
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Image Courtesy: NBT Rangmanch
2. Moong Dal Dahi Vadas
A non-fried rendition of the most popular street food... Moong Dal Dahi Vadas straight from Tarla Dalal's kitchen. It's an easy to make and even easier to digest recipe perfect for post Holi snack. It might require an overnight's prep, however, the result will be super tasty and zesty. Not only the use of moong dal saved us from an entire day of regret but the presence of low-fat curd makes the delicacy hard to resist with no extra guilt. Moong Dal Dahi Bhalla (Dahi Vada), can cost you around Rs. 180.00 for 250gm.
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Image Courtesy: Dr Shikha's NutriHealth
3. Healthy Almond Milk Thandai
No Holi celebration is fun without some special Holi Thandai if you know what I mean. But getting high on this sugary delight is surely not so healthy. Toppling down some fun is good enough, but not at the cost of your hard-worked fitness regime. Instead, keep it well on the fun part, just loose out the fat and fab from it. Use sugar alternatives like honey, jaggery or maple syrup as in the recipe, go with almond milk for protein and vitamin E, and ultimately use poppy seeds as the key ingredient. Powder of Healthy Almond Milk Thandai can cost you around Rs. 1000 for 1kg.
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Image Courtesy: Rasoi Menu
4. Malpuas But Healthy
A traditional Indian dessert loved by all is now a storehouse of gluten-free, fibre-rich oats flour. If the thought of Malpuas is making you worry about your fitness resolution, this recipe will save your life. It's fairly simple to follow and tastes as good as the original one. Make use of soy or almond milk instead of the regular one and pair the delicious Malpuas with Halwa or Rabri to colour the festival of Holi healthy and lip-smacking tasty.
Price: Rs.500/kg
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Image Courtesy: YouTube
5. Healthy Pan Shot
A Holi dinner deserves a smashing climax. And Pan Shot is it. Pan already has a reputation for being a powerful anti-ageing and digestive agent. More than that, it's rich in anti-oxidants. It's the perfect conclusion to the perfect festival. Now, even though restaurants serve pan shots with ice-cream which only adds more to calories than fun, we're inclining towards this simple recipe which is healthier and tastes the same. Secret? Coconut milk! Take a shot at this recipe and you can thank us later.
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Image Courtesy: YouTube
6. Baked Namak Para
Namak Para is an all-time favourite among the Holi fans in the country. Many would agree with me that a nice cup of tea and some Namak Paare after you're quite drenched in the spirit of this festival of colours makes for a soulful pleasure if nothing else. But this festive speciality comes with a price. A handful of these can make some serious damages to your body sculpting routine. So, if you really insist on having these, the baked version is just perfect. As opposed to their deep-fried counterparts these Namak Paras' are healthier, tastier and last longer. It will cost you around Rs. 100/kg.
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Image Courtesy: Indiamart.com
7. Oat Idli
Holi breakfast is awaited throughout the year. And starting this day with deep-fried awesomeness is so good. No? Instead, let's just start the day with Oats, a high-fibre alternative to rice and lentils, that makes for a perfectly delicious and healthy breakfast for such an occasion. Follow this recipe by Shilpa Shetty, add some nuts and veggies in the mix and enjoy the delicious tweak!
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Image Courtesy: Archana's Kitchen
8. No Fry Samosas
What's better than samosas? A healthier version made from whole wheat flour and the goodness of mashed potatoes and peas masala. Guests or not, this chai-time snack is a popular dish served in every household on the day of festivals. Especially the colourful one! After draining all your energy in shooting water canons on strangers, it's the only desi snack that would bring back the joy and strength to celebrate the entire day. What I love about this video tutorial is that it's very informative. The presenter is kind enough to explain the process of baking without an oven and used ghee instead of oil.
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Image Courtesy: Urbane Farmie
"Bura Na Mano Holi Hai?"... This Holi, instead of making excuses, make these super-healthy and tasty recipes to enjoy the festival guilt-free with your friends and family!