Nutritionist shares simple fibre hacks for balanced Navratri feasting

Festive Fibre Strategies

Navratri brings festive joy and delicious food, but changes in daily routines often lead to heavy snacking on fried items and sweets. Holistic nutritionist and functional health expert Roshni Sanghvi suggests counting fibre even before protein during the festive season to maintain metabolic and hormonal health. A key strategy is to pre-load meals by starting with fibre-rich foods like a salad, vegetable soup, or a whole fruit to promote fullness.

Adapting Traditional Meals

For those observing fasts, meals can include permitted ingredients like buckwheat, amaranth, or water chestnut flour instead of refined options. You can add cucumber to your fasting thali, snack on roasted makhana with nuts and seeds, or swap kaju katli for anjeer barfi made with figs and dates. People who are not fasting can incorporate pulses, beans, lentils, and sprouts, which offer high amounts of dietary fibre alongside plant-based protein. Portion control remains important because these festive ingredients still contain calories and natural sugars.

Context

Dietary fibre is a type of carbohydrate that passes through the digestive system without being fully broken down, helping to regulate blood sugar and support gut health. While protein has gained significant popularity for keeping people full, health experts note that fibre plays an equally important role in satiety and overall metabolic function. Balanced festive eating focuses on mindful food choices rather than rigid restrictions or skipping traditional treats.