Dark clouds and a cool breeze are symbolic of the monsoon season setting in. The most favorite thing to do during this time is to sit by the window and watch the rain pour while sipping on piping hot tea or indulging in roadside fried snacks. However, this is not a healthy snacking option, especially during the monsoon season. Considering how puddles and stagnant pools of water form around these roadside stalls, they become breeding grounds for mosquitoes which lead to water-borne diseases. Therefore, instead of giving in to your taste buds, read on to find recipes by fitness coach and nutritionist Vaishnavi Boora to satisfy your evening hunger pangs with healthy food recipes.

What You Should Know:

Why should you consider eating healthy snacks?
How to control your unhealthy snacking habits?
Healthy monsoon snack options

Why should you consider eating healthy snacks?

Snacks have become an integral part of our daily diet because our blood sugar levels tend to dip 3 to 5 hours after eating. Between this time, our body often craves something to eat. As a result, consider eating healthy evening snacks to stabilize your blood pressure levels.

However, overeating snacks can make you lethargic for the rest of the day. To break out of this pattern, consider choosing more healthy evening snacks. They not only satisfy your hunger but also boost your energy levels to carry out tasks throughout the day.

How to control your unhealthy snacking habits?

The best way to avoid consuming unhealthy snacks is by avoiding fried snacks or stocking them at home. Try and change your habit one step at a time, starting with replacing unhealthy foods with healthier evening snacks. Include foods like fruits, vegetables, makhanas, nuts, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and legumes in your diet. They are packed with nutrients, fiber and protein that your body needs to carry out body function.

Healthy monsoon snack options

Here are some of the delicious and healthy evening snacks that you can make at home:

Makhana Chaat

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ghee
1 packet of Makhana (foxnut)
2 teaspoons of turmeric and red chili powder
4 teaspoons of raw mango powder
Finely chopped onions, coriander and tomatoes
Salt according to taste

Method

Heat the ghee in a pan before adding the makhanas. Allow the makhanas to roast for about 3-5 minutes gently.
Add turmeric and red chili powder, and salt. You can add some raw mango (amchur) powder and mix for another 2 minutes.
Empty the makhanas into a bowl before topping it with chopped vegetables and chaat powder or raw mango powder.

Mango Chia Smoothie

Ingredients

½ cup chopped mango
2 tablespoons of curd
2 tablespoons of chia seeds

Method

Pick a local mango variety that is available in the monsoon season.
To make one glass of this mango chia smoothie, you will require half a mango chopped along with 2 tablespoons of curd and chia seeds.
Add these in the blender together until it gets a thick consistency, and your smoothie is ready.

Ragi Chakli

Ingredients

¾ cup of ragi and bajra flour
1½ cups of rice flour
1 cup of besan and urad dal flour
1 spoon of jeera, red chili powder and ¼ spoon of hing
Salt
1 tablespoon of warm butter
Oil for frying

Method

Start by roasting all the flours for about 10 minutes.
Mix chili, salt and cumin together with the flour residue.
Add melted butter and water and mix it rigorously.
Make soft doughs and add them to the chakli maker of your desired shape and size.
Heat the oil on a deep frying pan and start adding the dough. Let the chaklis fry till they’re golden brown in color. Remember to flip them on their sides.
Finally, drain the chaklis in a container, and your ragi chaklis are good to go.

Kanda Bhaji

Ingredients

½ cup of sliced onions
¼ cup of besan flour
1 tablespoon of salt
1 tablespoon Oil

Method

Start by placing the sliced onions in a large container and mix besan with them.
Add salt and oil to the mixture of the onions and besan. Mix it properly and allow the mix to rest for 5-7 minutes.
Heat the oil, and once it’s hot, start adding the bhaji mix one by one.
Fry it until it gets crispy and golden brown. Remove them from the oil and keep them on tissues to drain the excess oil.

Grilled cheese paneer sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices of wholewheat bread
1 slice of cheese
50 grams of cottage cheese
Slices of onion and capsicum
2 tablespoons of warm butter
Oregano, salt and chili flakes for added taste

Method

Start by mixing the paneer, salt, oregano and chili flakes in a bowl and be sure to mix them well. Once you’re done, let the mix rest for 10 minutes.
While you heat the pan, place the cheese, capsicum and onion with the mix on the slices of bread. Cover the other side with another sandwich. Toast the sandwich while using butter on the pan. It will be ready in 5 minutes. Remember to flip it on its side and add butter to toast both sides uniformly. You can eat it once it has cooled down.

Nachni dosa

Ingredients

1 cup of nachni (ragi) flour
½ cup of dahi and grated coconut
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 tablespoon of water and salt

Method

Start by mixing the nachni flour, grated coconut and dahi in a bowl.
Add water to the mixture until you have a thin dough. Let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes.
Heat a pan and spread the mixture over the container using a ladle.
Flip the dosa and add some oil. Once it’s cooked, consider serving it with chutney and bhaji.

Eating different healthy evening snacks can help you enhance body function and keep the lethargy away. So, the next time when it’s pouring outside, consider remaining indoors and try these amazing, simple recipes. Enjoy the rain with your family while you indulge in these guilt-free evening snacks.

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