Healthy snacking alternatives for your 4 pm hunger pang

For Indians the 4 PM hunger pang is real and snack time is sacred The India Snacking Report states that almost 80 per cent of those living in metros said they preferred heavy snacks instead of a meal as dinner It is also seen that 80 per cent of those surveyed say that nachos and chips are their goto snack Comparatively 70 per cent preferred Indian snacks such as namkeens pakoras sandwiches biscuits and cakesJowar dosaA smart choice we think would be to get hooked on snacking healthy this festive season ldquoMost people want to step away from deepfried and highcalorie snacking but just donrsquot know how to do itrdquo says Karishma Chawla nutritionist and lifestyle educator Most of us are stuck in patterns because either we donrsquot have the time or feel homemade snacks mean healthy ldquoSev purirdquo she adds ldquomight be great to taste and you might feel the extra pride of assembling it at your home but it cannot be denied that it is high in starch and carbohydrates and does not do anything for your digestionrdquoEgg idli served with airfried zucchini chips is the perfect high protein and fibre snack mealChawla recommends alternatives that have the same cooking or assembly time as chat or bhel and make a healthy and heavy snack ldquoWe are experimenting with jowar dosa not letting it sit after mixing the flour and water to avoid fermentationmdashwe do not want that for your gut so late in the dayrdquo adds ChawlaAnother snack is egg idli ldquoTake the tadka ladle saute tomato and onion add masalas and salt and plop an egg When the egg starts resembling an idli remove it and eat with zucchini chipsrdquo says Shah who recommends it for the gut ldquoIt will take you less time than frying samosasrdquo she smiles Another dish Shah swears by is peas and oat chila Add some jowar flour or brown rice for binding and shallow fry for a great savoury pancake ldquoBest for winters as peas are in season and so the gut would welcome it without any challengesrdquo she addsA vegetable hotpot meal an allalkaline snack meal that helps you get a good nightrsquos restSheela Tanna dietician and fitness consultant at KLS Memorial Hospital in Vile Parle recommends onepot snack meals A vegetable hot pot made by sauteing spring onions and garlic in olive oil or ghee with asparagus broccoli leek bok choy yellow red green bell pepper and mushrooms A tablespoon of cooked quinoa potatoes brown rice and seasonings of salt pepper fresh rosemary or basil works best ldquoGarlic serves as a prebiotic and prepares your stomach for more food The whole preparation is alkalinerdquo informs Tanna ldquoA great late evening meal it flushes out the system puts you to sound sleep and cures acidity and heartburnrdquoSheela Tanna and Karishma ChawlaWhile these snacks may sound intimidating to make both Tanna and Chawla emphasise practising healthy eating habits ldquoPeople spend hours making elaborate breakfasts lunches and dinners but have qualms about making these quick snacks Bad snacking affects your digestion sleep and overall metabolismmdashitrsquos no joke So train your mind and indulge in some serious snackingrdquo says Chawla