Yes, it is possible to eat a little healthier this Hari Raya Puasa
It’s so easy to overindulge on rich high-calorie foods during festivals such as Hari Raya Puasa. Festive goodies laden with sugar and saturated fats are certainly tempting, but if you don’t watch what you eat the calories can quickly pile up. Consuming unhealthy fats, sugar and excess calories can lead to weight gain and a myriad of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
However, you can enjoy your favourite festive treats without harming your health or your waistline too much this Hari Raya Puasa if you adopt the following healthy practices:
Eat slowly and mindfully: This way you will eat less while savouring every bite.
Use a smaller plate: This will help you consume smaller portions.
Avoid sugary drinks and drink more water: This will help you stay hydrated in a healthy way.
Swap unhealthy ingredients with healthy ones while cooking festive goodies: You can cut back on unhealthy fats, sugar and calories if you do this.
Four festive treats you can make with healthier ingredients:
Kuih tart (82 calories per piece):
Substitute high calorie cow milk-based condensed milk (321 kcal per 100g) with healthy plant-based soy milk (54 kcal per 100g) for this favourite pineapple tart.
Kuih makmur (55 kcal per piece):
Increase your fibre intake by using healthy whole grain wheat flour instead of refined white flour to make this traditional cookie.
Kuih suji (80 kcal per piece):
Cut back on saturated fats and use olive oil, which is rich in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, instead of ghee or butter for these semolina biscuits.
Ketupat (119 kcal per piece):
Substitute refined white rice with fibre-rich whole grain brown rice to make this triangular-shaped dumpling.
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