What to Eat After Karwa Chauth? 5 Mistakes to Avoid During your Break Fast.

By Dr Komal Bhangu Grewal, Homoeopathic Physician, Dietician & Holistic  Healthcare Expert

Karwa Chauth is one of our favourite festivals in India. It is a celebration of love, belief and marriage. Many women will fast between sunrise and moonrise to pray for their husband’s longevity and good health. Some women will eat and drink throughout the day. Others will take a ‘nirjala’ fast. To make sure you feel comfortable after a long time without food, think about what you eat to break your fast.

Many women will eat a large meal as soon as they see the moon. Fried foods, puris, sweets and rich foods will all make an appearance at the dinner table. However, this can cause you to feel bloated, indigestion, nausea and a heavy stomach. Try to be mindful with your eating to help you enjoy your day without causing any issues for your tummy.

Why you should avoid eating a large meal.

After several hours without food, your tummy will be growling! However, eating a large high calorie meal can cause you issues with digestion.

Imagine you have had your morning sargi and have not eaten or drunk anything throughout the day. Once you have seen the moon you eat a couple or 3 puris, chole, sweets and rich dessert. This could cause you to feel bloated, with heartburn and nausea. Whilst not everyone suffers from this, to help reduce some of the discomfort you can try to eat your food more slowly and keep the initial meal smaller.

How to break your fast.

Start with drinking some water. Especially if you have done a ‘nirjala’ fast.

Once you have broken your fast start with some still water. Start slowly and sip some water.

Try not to rely on sugary drinks, fizzy drinks and sweet sherbets. Generally starting with some plain water will be the best option. Depending on your situation you may need extra medical advice if you have not had much fluid, been sweating a lot and become dehydrated.

If you have been feeling dizzy, faint, confused, have had very little urine or have felt very weak do not ignore these symptoms. Seek medical advice as soon as possible.

What to Eat After Karwa Chauth?

Your meal should be a balanced meal that you are comfortable with. You do not need to have a fancy meal.

Fresh fruit – banana, papaya or seasonal fruit can give you some carbs, fibre and essential nutrients.

Plain curd – if you can eat dairy products then this is a great source of protein and calcium.

Simple home cooked food – you can have a balanced meal with dal, veg, roti or khichdi.

Protein rich foods – dal, paneer, curd or other protein sources can help add more nutrition.

When you have seen the moon you could have a little water, some fruit or other light food. Then have a balanced meal with dal, veg and roti. How long you wait between eating will depend on your situation. You want to eat comfortably.

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid.

Over eating – Don’t over eat just because you have been hungry. Eat slowly and stop when you are comfortably full.

Too many fried foods – eating lots of puris, pakoras and other oily foods can make you feel worse with a heavy meal. Have some festive foods but keep it to a minimum.

Too many sweets – Whilst you can have some traditional sweets, try to keep it to a reasonable amount.

Don’t forget to drink water – Once you have broken your fast start to drink some water. Keep having enough fluids throughout the evening unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

Don’t starve yourself the next day – Generally there is no need to over compensate by eating very little. Eat normally with balanced meals.

Who should be extra cautious?

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have diabetes, low blood pressure, kidney disease or heart issues then you should seek individual medical advice before doing a long fast. If you are on regular medication then don’t skip or alter your dose.

Those with diabetes may be at risk of blood sugar changes. Long periods without fluids may also not be suitable for those with certain medical conditions. Don’t ignore major symptoms just because you want to be religious.

Enjoy the Festival.

Karwa Chauth is a celebration of devotion and togetherness. Food plays a big role within the tradition. With a little planning you can make your day more comfortable. Choose a nutritious sargi, know what your body needs, break your fast slowly and don’t over eat rich foods.

Don’t make a complicated meal after your fast. Listen to your body and choose healthy foods. Being mindful with your fluids, balanced meals and portion sizes will help you to enjoy Karwa Chauth.

Dr Komal Bhangu Grewal is a Homoeopathic Physician, Dietician & Holistic Healthcare Expert.