Diwali Celebrations Minus Trans Fat Foods? Yes! It’s Possible

Diwali is around the corner….in Delhi, the nip is in the air and well, so is the smog! The house cleaning and painting is accompanied by moth balled winter clothes making their way out; and mind and belly being prepared for a few weeks of excess. Childhood memories of yummy ladoos made at home in desi ghee (clarified butter), shankarpali or shakkarparas galore, rangoli designs being planned and candles and diyas (tealight) being stocked up on. Fast forward to more recent times and the many “dabbas” of yummy-ness making their way around the city. In all the fun, the ghee got replaced by Vanaspati, and we didn’t even notice.

Vanaspati made its way into our diet from the 1930s onwards because most Indians could barely afford the cost of ghee. Today the reality is we cannot afford its health affects. Particularly during these times of Corona, when our health is our last defense.

This year everything is different. We are at home more, and (hopefully) partying in moderation. At Slurrp Farm we’re bringing back the delicious nostalgia of all things home made.

How to avoid trans fat foods?

1. Include whole foods in your family’s diet. Meals incomplete without a bowl of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean meats, fish, nuts, and lean poultry

2. Cut back on consumption of foods with ingredients such as refined sugar, certain margarines, and vegetable oils. Most fast foods such as fried chicken, battered fish, hamburgers, french fries and fried noodles, can all hold high levels of trans fat.

3. Not all processed foods contain trans fats. Slurrp Farm’s products are made using traditional super grains, no refined sugar, no trans fat, no maida (whole-purpose flour), no artificial coloring or preservatives.

4. Read food labels and avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oil listed as an ingredient

Here’s how to read food labels on packaged food products!

Trans fat-free ragi ladoo recipe:

  

Click here to purchase your DIY Ladoo combo/kit

Ingredients: 

1. ½ Cup Slurrp Farm Organic Sprouted Ragi (finger millet) flour

2. 1/2 Cup Organic Jaggery Powder

3. One Cup dates (seedless)

4. One Tbsp ghee

5. One Tbsp poppy seeds

6. 1/2 Sesame seeds

7. Two Tbsp almonds (chopped/powdered) 

8. Two Tbsp raisins (chopped/powdered)

All the nuts can be substituted for Slurrp Farm Organic Nut Powder

 

Method: 

1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a deep pan and roast 1 cup Ragi (finger millet) flour. On a low flame for about 5 – 7 mins. One of the most important things you need to remember while making these ladoos is to roast the ragi very well. If there is even a slight rawness, then this will cause stomach aches.

 

 

2. Grind together, some lightly roasted dry fruits.

 

 

3. In a bowl mix the roasted ragi, ground dry fruits, 1/2 cup of organic powdered jaggery. Add 2 tbsp warm ghee/butter to hold the mix together. 

 

 

4. If you like the flavour, add 1 tbsp cardamom powder to the mix.

 

 

5. Use your hands to mold the mix into round balls. Use more ghee if they are too dry and crumbling.

 

 

6. Your healthy Foxtail Millet Ladoo Ragi Ladoo is ready! Enjoy the guilt-free binging!

 

This November 14th 2020 is Diwali, World Diabetes Day and Children’s day. Let’s celebrate it with #ZeroTransFatMithas

 

Vanaspati = Is the Sanskrit word that now refers to the entire plant kingdom. In this context, it’s a brand known for a fully or partially hydrogenated vegetable cooking oil, 

Shankarpali or shakkarparas = Popular Indian sweet snack

Ghee = Clarified Butter

Diyas = Earthen tea-lights

Dabbas = Boxes

Ragi = Finger Millets