Many people cannot take full fast, but rather prefer restricted & 'satvic' diet during festivals. This also works great, as it helps cleanse the body/mind & enhances health too.
1. No animal food , choose 'satvic':
Restrict non-veg, eggs, garlic & onion. These are considered as non-satvic foods, in Hindu religion.
Commit to go pure vegetarian for festive duration, if possible.
2. Give that much-needed break to your digestive system:
No heavy to digest grains (like Wheat, Rice, Gram flour), pulses, peas, lentils, beans (like 'Chana', 'Urad' dal, 'Chola', Kidney-beans etc.) helps.
You might replace above with easily digestible, lighter varities (like 'Sabutdana', millets - Ragi, Jowar, 'Kuttu' & 'Singhada' flour etc.).
Lighter options from Rice/ Wheat family might also be taken, if you need more food options for example: Rice flakes, 'Rava', 'Dalia' and other grains usually used for breakfast / snacks.
Avoid deep-fried food, as that's difficult to digest, too.
3. Reduce chemical intake:
Avoid packaged food (ready to eat biscuits, chips, savories or sweets etc.). 'Ready to cook' or just heat & eat kind of packs, ready-made pickles, sauces etc. generally need preservative treatment for shelf life. It is advisable to give-up these during your restricted-diet practice, too.
Eat freshly cooked food, every single meal & watch the difference in your energy levels. You might be most likely surprised, if this differs from your regular routine.
4. Simplify food & reduce more processing:
Restaurant food is prepared according to taste, for commercial purpose & might be harmful for health.
Overcooked, spicy food can be avoided, completely, during this period. Mildly spiced food with cumin & rock salt, works better to cleanse the system, and pacify the mind. Try it, for yourself.
If travelling outside or at work, one may choose fresh juice, coconut water, carry tiffin or buy something simple like roasted nuts or cut fruits & salad from local vendors. Purchase of cooked meals and variety dishes or continental food, shall break your commitment to diet-plan. If the ingredients are unsure & processing is complex, such food is better avoided.
5. Avoid milk, add fruits & nuts-
As per 'Ritucharya' suggestion of Ayurveda, cow milk is not consumable in all seasons. The probability of harmful germs in animal milk, exist in rainy season.
Milk is better avoided during Navratri in Ashwin month, for example. This restriction gets uplifted in Kartik, the next month of Hindu calendar, after Dusshera. Fresh milk is considered consumable - 'satvic' & healthy, again, for next few months.
Add fresh, sweet, seasonal fruits to your daily diet. These nourish the body and mind with fluids & vitamins etc.
A small quantity of dry fruits , nuts, seeds during your self-designed fasting, shall be filling up for nutrition too. Lotus seeds or 'makhana', peanuts, melon seeds, dates, coconut etc. are a few examples that serve well. These can be used as ingredients, to prepare simple & delicious festival sweets at-home.
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