This festive season eat halwa and lose weight

Since the festive season has started, it's time to relish the delicacies made at home. Piping hot halwa made in ghee and garnished with some nuts can make for a perfect winter evening guilty pleasure. Homemade halwa tops the list of favourite meetha of Indian households. But having halwa also brings along the fear of calories and unwanted weight gain. If you are sceptical about having the halwa, here's the good news - you must go for it. But make sure to prepare it with a healthy twist.

Here are five things you can keep in mind while preparing halwa so it does not hinder your weight loss goals.

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No doubt, sooji and atta halwa taste the best, but if you swap these with lauki, carrot or beetroot, your halwa will remain as delicious and will become healthy too.

We all know sugar is not good for weight loss. You can add pureed banana to add sweetness and nutrition to your halwa. You can also replace sugar with jaggery.

Adding walnuts, almonds, cashews or other nuts of your choice can add flavour, crunch and nutrition to the halwa. Dry fruits are rich in minerals, proteins, fibre and vitamins, which can help you maintain energy, keep you fuller for longer and aid digestion.

One thing you do not have to change about halwa is making it in ghee. Ghee is no-villain, in fact, it has high concentrations of monounsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids that support cardiovascular health.

Gajar ka halwa is a healthy dessert we all must-have. This is because the basic ingredient in gajar halwa is carrots. Carrots are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre.

The milk in halwa adds calcium and protein to the dish.

Carrots are seasonal during winter and are a must-have. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which helps the skin by blocking the UV rays, which are active during winter.