Diwali, the festival of lights, is a celebration of joy, togetherness, and of course – food. In Indian culture, food is at the heart of every celebration, and Diwali is incomplete without delicious mithai and snacks. But if you are on a weight loss journey, eating during festivals can often feel stressful. Saying “no” to your favorite sweets and fried delicacies requires willpower and can take away the joy from the festival. Especially since most of the delicacies are usually prepared only once a year! But there is no reason to be sad or feel guilty for taking a bite of your favourite delicacy. You know why? Because the good news is that you do not have to give up your favourite foods. With our smart swaps, you can still enjoy sugar-free, high-protein, low-calorie Diwali sweets and snacks that taste festive but are much lighter and healthier. Here is your clean and nutritious mini Diwali snack plate with recipes that skip refined sugar, avoid deep frying, and are perfect for weight management while keeping the festive spirit alive.
Your mini Diwali snack plate
1. Protein Rasamalai
Our rasamalai recipe is packed with protein from paneer yet is creamy, flavourful and light.
No. of servings: 12
Ingredients
- Low fat, high protein paneer – ½ Kg
- Low fat milk – 1 Litre
- Stevia/Monkfruit powder – To taste
- Saffron strands – 2-3 strands
- Cardamom powder – To taste
- Almond powder – 30gms
- Pistachios – For garnish
Instructions
- Wash and knead the paneer until smooth.
- Shape them into small flat discs and steam them in an idli maker for 8–10 min.
- To make the rabri, reduce 1 L milk, add sweetener of choice, saffron, cardamom and almond powder.
- Add the steamed paneer discs to the rabri, garnish with pistachios.
- Serve chilled topped with dried rose petals if preferred.
| /Per portion* | |
| Energy (kcal) | ~130 |
| Protein (g) | ~14 |
Suggested variation: For a vegan alternative, replace paneer with firm tofu and use almond or soy milk instead of milk.
2. Tawa Adhira
No. of servings: 6
Ingredients:
- Red rice flour – 1 cup
- Home made dates paste -½ cup
- Urad dal flour – 2 Tbsp.
- Organic A2 Ghee – 1 Tbsp.
- Cardamom powder (optional) – To taste
Method:
- Mix dates paste with a little warm water to make a sticky syrup.
- Knead red rice flour and urad flour to make a soft and pliable dough. Rest the dough for 1 hour.
- Grease a dosa pan lightly ghee,
- Shape small flat discs over a banana leaf and place it on the hot stove.
- Cook covered on low-medium flame, flipping once, until golden and cooked inside.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
| /Per portion* | |
| Energy (kcal) | ~116 |
| Protein (g) | ~1.7 |
Suggested variation: you can add ½ cup mashed ripe banana along with dates paste for natural sweetness and softness.
3. Air fried Crispy Murukku
No. of servings: 7-9
Ingredients:
- Roasted chickpea flour – 1 cup
- Rice flour – ½ cup
- Urad dal flour – 2 tbsp.
- Cumin/Carom seeds – 1/2cup
- Salt – To taste
- Chili powder – To taste
- Cold pressed ground nut oil – 1 tsp.
Method:
- Mix the flours and spices with warm water to make a dough.
- Use a murukku press to shape the dough into spirals.
- Brush the murukku lightly with oil.
- Air fry @180°C for 10–12 min until crisp. Flip half way to ensure even browning.
- Store in an air tight container and enjoy.
| /Per portion* | |
| Energy (kcal) | ~100 |
| Protein (g) | ~4 |
Suggested variation: You can add beetroot puree or spinach puree to the dough for a spark of natural colour to bring in the desi festive vibe.
4. Baked Paneer Samosa
Ingredients: 6
- Whole wheat flour – 1 cup
- Besan – 2 tbsp.
- Cold pressed oil – 1 tsp.
- Mashed boiled chickpeas – ¼ cup
- Low fat paneer crumbled – 1 cup
- Boiled green peas – ½ cup
- Jeera – ½ tsp.
- Cashews – 2 tbsp.
- Onion chopped – 1 no.
- Ginger – 1 tsp.
- Chili – 3 nos.
- Garam masala – To taste
- Salt – To taste
- Cold pressed oil – 2 Tbsp.
- Coriander leaves – 1 handful
Method:
- Knead the dough and leave it aside.
- Heat a pan with little oil. Saute all the ingredients to make the filling and let it cool.
- Roll dough into circles and shape like samosas
- Fill it with the yummy stuffing and seal edges with water
- Brush with oil, bake @200°C for 15–20 min or air fry until golden.
- Enjoy hot with home made tamarind chutney and green chutney.
| /Per portion* | |
| Energy (kcal) | ~165 |
| Protein (g) | ~10 |
Suggested variation – You can make a filling by replacing paneer with crumbled tofu, green gram sprouts, sautéed bell peppers, carrots, and beans.
Traditional Diwali sweets and snacks are often deep-fried, loaded with refined sugar, and heavy on calories. While they definitely do taste divine, they can make you feel bloated and guilty. The trick is not to give them up, but to make them healthier with smart swaps – Baked instead of fried, dates instead of refined sugar, and protein-rich ingredients instead of empty calories.Celebrate this Diwali with light, tasty, and wholesome sweets & snacks. Share these recipes with your loved ones and spread not just joy, but health too. For more customised weight loss recipes and plans, join our expert-guided weight loss program.
