The Top 9 Foods That Help You Ease Into A Fast


Fasting has become a trend that is here to stay. People are waking up to the fact that controlling our appetite for food helps us not only in bringing our emotions under control but in controlling all our physical appetites. Successful fasting, though, is a habit that takes time and effort to mature and reveal its results. There are people who fast for religious reasons like Lent and Shivratri and there are those who fast for health reasons.

If you are fasting to deepen your faith, it helps to fast from other secular media, interaction, etc. during the fasting hours and use the time to pray, read sacred scriptures, chant, say the rosary, and sing hymns and bhajans to help you focus during the fasting hours. If losing weight is your goal, try intermittent fasting (IF) and start with short fasting periods like 12:12 IF , 16:8 IF, and 20:4 IF, where eating windows gradually decrease from 12 hours, 8 hours and 4 hours a day, respectively.

There are things to keep in mind regarding the type and quality of foods to take  that help you avoid becoming overwhelmed during your fasting hours. Absolutely avoid spicy, processed,  stimulating foods when it's time to eat. Keep things like junk food out of reach. People may also choose to stick to plant-based products during their religious fasts.

Hydration is very important throughout the day and when coming out of a fast, slowly introduce gut-friendly foods and other foods that are gentle on the stomach first. Listed here are foods that will ease your cravings and help you hold a more successful fast. 

 

Khichdi

Grains and vegetables are one of the most allowable things on a Hindu religious fast.  Rice-Dal Khichdi, Sabudana Khichdi, Sama Khichdi, and Suran Khichdi are not only easy on the stomach; they provide you with all the necessary nutrition so you do not get exhausted during the day. 

 

Oatmeal with Fruits

Oatmeal can be customised by adding  bananas, mangoes and berries to give a complete meal of necessary carbs, antioxidants and protein if you are using milk. They are one of the healthiest foods to keep you sustained throughout the day.

 

Vegetable soup

You can use any vegetable of choice, like carrots, peas and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, to make a delicious, nutritious soup full of vitamins and minerals that will not let your body go out of balance during those long fasts.


 

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, watermelon seeds and peanuts are powerhouses of nutrients like omega-3, fibre and nut protein. They are great for both brain and heart health and you can munch on them anytime. Just do away with those salty, spicy varieties that do you no good and only aggravate cravings.


Whole Breads with Dal

Whole breads, like those made with ragi, wheat, or rice, are full of fibre and help you stay full longer. Have them with ghee or your standard non-spicy dal to keep you satiated and unpleasant ‘hangry’ emotions at bay.


Brown Rice with Mashed Potatoes

Indians are so used to eating rice with spicy curries that it may take a while to get used to eating this blander combination but not to worry! Add some salt and a slice of green chillies along with mustard oil when mashing your potatoes to make  a healthy and delicious addition to your boiled rice and you are good to go for hours without food cravings.    


Coconut Water And Pulp

There is probably no gentler food on earth for the stomach than coconut water. The healthy fats in the coconut pulp will provide you with energy throughout the day. It is one of the best foods to introduce into your diet after a fast, as it naturally doesn't cause irritation to the stomach lining, unlike cooked foods.

 

Dairy Products

Dairy products include plain curd, paneer, milk, and ghee. They can be had in the form of curd rice, ghee-rice or kheer. When cooking paneer, stick to salt and turmeric only. They will help maintain your protein and  B3 levels if you opt out of meat during your fast. 


 

Boiled Eggs/Fish/Chicken

While these are not recommended on religious fasts, if you are on a fast for losing weight  with bodybuilding as your goal, it would help to include them in your diet for that additional protein.