A straightforward meal plan that Hindu devotees celebrating the significant festival of Chaitra Navratri can follow was shared on Instagram by nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, well-known for her work with actor Kareena Kapoor. She listed breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, dinner, and snack options.
Rujuta Diwekar’s Chaitra Navratri meal plan
“Indian kitchens are always prepared for the change of seasons, especially in summer when we welcome the season with light meals,” Rujuta wrote in a sample meal plan for Chaitra Navratri released on April 2. “A celebration of the changing seasons, incorporating nuts, spices, pulses, and millets.” It’s a tried-and-true method used in Indian kitchens to greet the warm season without feeling bloated or sweating,” she added.
- On rising: 3-4 soaked black raisins with 1-2 strands of Kesar + 3-4 soaked almonds
- Breakfast: Rajgira thalipeeth or roti with dahi
- Mid-morning: A small bowl of musk melon
- Lunch: Samo chawal with peanut curry
- Evening: Chaas with ginger + boiled and roasted sweet potato
- Dinner: Banana + glass of masala milk (milk boiled with mixed powder of dry fruits and some spices, can be had on cooling or warm).
A banana with a glass of masala milk is made by boiling milk with a mixture of dried fruit powder and spices and can be consumed once the milk has warmed up or chilled.
Additionally, Rujuta provided a few additional hydration alternatives for attendees to enjoy throughout the festival. In her post, she mentioned fresh watermelon juice and Aam panda.
Chaitra Navratri, on the other hand, is a nine-day religious festival. To cleanse their bodies and minds, devotees maintain the fast. It entails abstaining from food and liquids from dawn to dusk.
Dietitian Purnima Verma says, “It stimulates neurogenesis and improves brain functions like memory, alertness, and cognitive functions.” Additionally, fasting promotes sleep, assimilation of meals, metabolism, and circadian rhythm.
