The festival of lights is knocking on the doors and the air is already rife with the ghee-laden smell of laddoos and barfis. And why wouldn’t it be? After all, no celebration is welcomed without a dash of ‘sweet.’ Whether it be the sweet smile that greets the festival on the door, or a thali decked with traditional Diwali sweets that send a hungry hurricane roaring through tummies, Diwali isn’t just the festival of lights. It is also the festival of sparkling smiles that widen a wee bit more, as soon as the table is decked with a variety of Diwali sweets, prepared at home.

Uninvited guests or untimely cravings, that sweet tooth shan’t go aching anymore because these traditional sweet preparations shall speak so much about you, your food and well, the ways you care…

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Suggested read: Evergreen gifts for Diwali

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Here’s what your Diwali sweets say about you and how much you care for a healthy ‘sweetness…’

Kheer- Homely

Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License

You are the adjusting one, the homely half every man wants to take home to his mom. You are oft-spoken, a veritable offspring of patience and not one for confrontation. But God help him who drives you up the wall. He won’t know what hit him when your temper finally blows a gasket.

Your sweet is high on carbs and fat. The carbs come primarily from the rice, milk fat and sugar. The protein is moderate, and comes from milk.

You can eat the sweet for lunch or dinner.

You take the healthy route to prepare the sweet by using skimmed milk and reducing the sugar content. Of course, you can ditch those two steps if pregnant women and children are consuming the sweet.

Kalakand- Luxe

Image source: Youtube

You love luxury and unapologetically so. You are sometimes criticized for your ‘let them eat cake’ attitude but you mean no harm by it. You were born with a silver spoon and also a generous, loving heart and it is so not your fault!

Your sweet is high on fat and carbs. The fats come from the milk, sugar and dry fruits. The protein content is moderate, and comes from the milk and pistachios. It is also sometimes cancelled out by the comparatively inordinate measure of fat.

You can eat it in small quantities at lunch.

You take the healthy route to prepare the sweet by using less sugar and skimmed milk. This shall not take away from the sweet’s luxe quotient and yet, keep the calorie count in check.

Rasgulla- Athletic

Image source: Youtube

You are pretty health conscious but not in a fussy, gets-on-my-nerves kind of way. You are balanced, non-fanatic about calories and can watch your food like a hawk, carry that pedometer everywhere you have a plate and yet, not slip up on enjoying every bite you gulp down.

Your sweet is high on carbs and fat. The fat usually comes from the simple sugars in the concentrated syrup. The protein content is high too but is dwarfed in effect by the fat content in the sugars.

You can eat it at teatime or lunch.

Despite it being a healthier option to deep fried sweets, you can take the healthy route by squeezing out as much of the ‘ras’ from the ‘gulla’ as possible. It won’t be any less ‘sweet,’ I promise!

Kaju Katli- Sweet

Image source: Youtube

You are the nice one in your clique. You help your friends out with everything, from a broken heart to a broken toe. You’ve been known to take the rap for them, on occasion but you are far too strong to let anyone walk over you.

Your sweet is high on the carbs and fat fronts. It comes from the sugar, milk and nuts. While the protein content is moderate, it is still outweighed by the fat content. You can consume the sweet at teatime so your body has ample time to digest the ‘mithai.’

The healthier option would be to swap the ‘kaju’ katli for one made from some other healthy nut substitute. Think almonds instead of cashews and your body will thank you for it, and no, your sweet tooth wouldn’t be complaining either.

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Suggested read: Ways to make better memories this Diwali

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Gaajar Ka Halwa- Firebrand

Image source: Youtube

You are the quintessential go-getter and will stop at nothing to get what you want. Your energy can often steamroll those in the way but your fierce loyalty toward those who’ve earned your love conquers all else.

Your sweet is high on the fat and carbs content. The fat comes primarily from ghee and sugar. The protein content is moderate and comes from the milk.

Even though the sweet ranks high on the calorie charts, the health meter gives the sweet a green owing to the vitamins and beta carotene coming in from the carrots. You can eat the sweet for breakfast or lunch.

The healthy option, if you’d still like one, is to use skimmed milk to bind the sweet and scrimp the ghee. You can also reduce the content of sugar to let the natural flavor of carrots filter through.

Let this Diwali, all your Diwali sweets bring in ‘sweet satisfaction,’ guaranteed!

Happy Diwali…

Featured image source: Youtube