Picture this: it’s 4pm and pop comes that notification from your favourite food ordering app. A 20 per cent off on that slice of gooey chocolate cake that makes the perfect pair with your evening tea. While most of us might give in for lack of better options, understand that eating a healthy meal in the evenings is essential to good health. “When we suppress our appetite with tea or coffee in the evening, the body produces more cortisol that increases chances of overeating at dinner, leading to thyroid issues and irregular sleep patterns,” says Kareena Kapoor Khan’s nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, who is responsible for the star’s svelte post-pregnancy body.
Instead of depriving the body of foods or opting for superfoods like quinoa and kale, Diwekar strongly advises you stick by your roots and put your trust in native Indian foods like idlis, poha and foxnuts instead. “Your evening snack should be wholesome, but picking the right one depends on how soon you’re going to eat dinner after,” says Diwekar. Sounds complicated? Whether you’re going from the boardroom to the pub or sticking to your routine, we asked her to break down the best snack-time options to calm evening hunger pangs. Now, with a little luck, we can all get close to Kareena’s fit body.
If you eat dinner by 7 or 7:30pm:
“A handful of peanuts or chana, makhana(foxnuts) roasted in ghee or rock salt, seasonal fruits or banana, chikkis or homemade chaklis are the best options for you. These are also great for those who wake up and sleep early, exercise on the daily or those who suffer from PCOS or diabetes.”
If you eat dinner at 9pm or after:
“Eat a regular wheat roti with a spoon of ghee and jiggery, a bowl of dahi rice or idli with poodi chutney and ghee to improve your energy levels. Ensure there is a 90-minute gap to dinner after this meal.”
If you’re going to an after-work party or your schedule is erratic:
“Opt for something heavier like poha, upma, besan ladoos, eggs with toast or a protein shake to keep your stomach filled. This helps to beat mood swings, midnight cravings and also boosts your immunity.”
Common foods that help the body heal naturally
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