With the festive season here, most of us are busy scurrying away to different markets and malls to buy gifting items for our loved ones. As you walk down a market street, your eyes and nose are continuously seduced by the aroma of freshly made mithaai and brightly coloured packets of namkeens, chocolates, and other savory snacks. You can’t help but pick up a few assortments to add to your gift baskets.
However, ask most people and they will say that would much rather not be gifted these unhealthy items. Most people these days are worried about staying healthy and fit, and given how we all do inevitable end up snacking on unhealthy festive munchies during the festive season, we would much rather prefer an assortment of food items that’s nutritious.
Here are five health foods you can consider adding to your gift baskets this festive season:
1. Infusions: We all have sipped Green Tea, but what about infusions? Made from the bud or petals of aromatic flowers such as Hibiscus, Jasmine, and Camomile, infusions have a mild taste and pleasant smell. These teas help calm the mind and are perfect for relieving stress and tension.
2. Lighter oils: While Olive Oil has become a staple in most modern household kitchens, Canola and Flaxseed Oil are slowly growing in popularity and usage. Both these oils are lighter and easier to digest for the body than traditional oils such as Mustard and Refined oils, and also help reduce Cholesterol.
3. Diet savoury snacks: Instead of high salt and fat namkeens consider gifting roasted savoury snacks made from pulses, legumes, and grams. These snacks are rich in fibre and proteins, and have much lesser calories that traditional deep fried namkeens. Moreover, if your loved ones have a sweet tooth, add Trail Mix packets that contain dried fruits, nuts, and seeds and provide a healthy energy boost.
4. Ancient grains: Long considered traditional grains, exotic foreign and indigenous grains such as Quinoa, Buckwheat, and Amaranth are slowly being consumed by affluent consumers for their numerous health benefits. These grains contain numerous health benefits such as being high in proteins and fibre and low in carbohydrates and fats and are a healthier alternative to wheat, flour, and white rice.
5. Fat-free Cookies: If your loved ones relish eating biscuits and cookies, gift them multigrain or oatmeal variants that have low sugar, high protein, and high fibre that helps improve digestion. For diabetic patients, consider gifting only those sugar-free cookies that use natural sweeteners such as Maltose and Stevia.
