Celebrate Raksha bandhan with These Diabetes-friendly Sweets

Diabetes-friendly Sweets to Make Your Raksha Bandhan Special

Of all the many festivals that Indians celebrate with such fervor, perhaps none holds more importance for siblings as Raksha Bandhan. The name literally translates to ‘bond of protection and is characterized by the tying of colorful braided thread—rakhi—on the wrist of the brother, and in some communities, other family members as well.

On the day, brothers and sisters don new clothes and observe Raksha Bandhan by lighting an earthen lamp, or diya, in the presence of their elders. Sisters perform aarti and pray for the health and wellbeing of their brothers.

Sweets, desserts, and dry fruits are shared and the sisters then apply a tilak (saffron mark) on their brother’s forehead and tie the rakhi—this varies from a simple thread to an elaborately decorated band—around the brother’s wrist. Brothers on their part give their siblings new clothes and gifts to mark the occasion.

A ‘Sweet' Celebration

There is no denying that Indians love their sweets. It is an intrinsic part of every celebration, and Raksha Bandhan is no different. Delicacies include barfis, laddoos, and desserts.

But for diabetes Patients who need to keep a close watch on their BSL, celebrations can also bring a pang of disappointment as these sweets are usually on the forbidden list of foods.

But it needn’t be so. With a few modifications to the ingredients, there are several dishes that diabetics can safely have—especially if their BSL is mostly under control. 

Here are three sweets that have a special association with Raksha Bandhan, and which can be safely had if one follows the recipe below.

1. Mung Dal Ladoos

Mung dal is a pulse belonging to the legume family. Although it does contain carbohydrates, like all pulses, it ranks low on the Glycemic Index. Making it suitable for diabetics to consume. Mung dal is a staple savory dish on the Indian table, but the recipe below also makes it a tasty sweet dish.

Click here for the full Mung Dal Laddoos Recipe

2. Sesame Seed (Til) Laddoos

Sesame seeds are commonly consumed in India during the winter months as they are known to boost metabolic activity, which generates heat in the body. Like all seeds, sesame seeds too are excellent for diabetics, as they have been shown to have hypoglycemic effects. Sesame seeds also have a high content of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. 

That’s not the only healthy ingredient in til laddoos. The laddoos also contain peanuts, which have a low GI rating of just 14 and an even lower glycemic load of just one! This means they have a very low impact on blood sugar levels (BSL), making them good for diabetics.

Unlike regular laddoos which use a lot of BSL-boosting jaggery or sugar, FFD’s sesame seed laddoos get their sweetness from dates, which have a low GI ranking and are thus suitable for the diabetic diet.

Click here for the full Sesame Seed (Til) Laddoos Recipe

3. Coconut Banana Barfi

Who doesn’t love the rich sweet taste of barfi. Unfortunately, as milk and sugar are generously used to prepare barfi, it isn’t the ideal sweet for diabetics. We all know the danger of consuming sugar; animal milk and its products too are a no-no for people with diabetes.

Not only is dairy milk high in saturated fat, it also contains a compound known as Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF), which interfere with insulin’s functionality, triggering BSL spikes. But with a few modifications, you can still enjoy your barfi.

Click here to get FFD's diabetes-friendly coconut burfi recipe.

Takeaway

Sweets are intrinsically intertwined with the way we celebrate our festivals in India. And this can make it a difficult time for people suffering from insulin resistance disorders, like diabetes, and who need to watch their diet.

But it needn’t be a challenge. With a little innovation and substitution of certain less-than-beneficial ingredients with healthier ones, you can bring some sweetness to your celebrations without spiking your blood sugar levels.

We hope the treats in this article will bring some cheer to your Raksha Bandhan celebrations, this year.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2022, from all of us at Freedom from Diabetes.

For more diabetes-friendly recipes, visit our blog page: https://www.freedomfromdiabetes.org/blog/recipes