Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar tells us why to have Indian sweets this Diwali

Diwali is known as the festival of lights, but it is more joyful because we spend it with our family. While our grandparents' generation lovingly crafted homemade sweets like laddoos and gujias, today's generation often approaches these traditional delicacies with apprehension, weighed down by modern concerns of calorie counts and "festive weight gain”. 

However, celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar challenges these reservations with a refreshing perspective on embracing traditional Indian sweets during Diwali.

Indian sweets 

In an informational video that she posted online, Diwekar advocates savouring the rich variety of Indian sweets, from ladoos and barfis to katlis and gulab jamuns. She points out an ironic trend: while we have labelled our traditional sweets as “unhealthy," we've embraced Western alternatives like cupcakes and chocolates, mistakenly considering them healthier options. She particularly warns against chocolates, citing ethical concerns about the industry's association with child labour.

The nutritional wisdom behind traditional Indian sweets is often overlooked. Homemade sweets, followed closely by those from local vendors, offer genuine health benefits. Their placement at the centre of the Diwali thali is no coincidence – it's proof of their cultural and nutritional significance. These sweets, crafted with ingredients like ghee, coconut, pulses, millets, and nuts, naturally maintain a low glycemic index, helping stabilise blood sugar levels rather than spike them. 

Pre-festival dieting 

Diwekar emphasises that even individuals with diabetes can mindfully enjoy homemade sweets. She dismisses the notion of pre-festival dieting to "compensate" for festive eating, stressing that traditional sweets are an integral part of our cultural diet and lifestyle. Her message is clear: there's no need for guilt when following our traditional dietary wisdom. 

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Most importantly, she stresses the value of passing down our culinary heritage by involving children in the sweet-making process, sharing stories, and maintaining these precious traditions for future generations.