The festive season usually means sweet indulgences loaded with sugar and all the ghee you can imagine. Modaks are a quintessential part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations but they don't have to be unhealthy. If you want to keep your belt from needing a few extra notches till midnight, try the healthy ukadiche modak or “steamed” modak. Prepared with healthy ingredients like coconut, jaggery, ghee, and almonds they pack a nutritional punch. No prizes for guessing that “steaming” this sweet course fills you up with fewer calories. Here's How to Make Traditional Steamed Modak in Authentic Maharashtrian Style This Ganeshotsav. 

Coconut Helps Crush Cravings

These modaks are prepared with coconut that can leave you feeling full for longer. Turns out that the fat content in coconut is a medium-chain triglyceride, which helps with satiety. Plus, coconut provides sugar for quick energy while the fat digests slowly. That winning combo gives you long-lasting energy and prevents hunger and cravings by keeping your blood sugar levels in check.

Jaggery Gives You an Iron Boost

Jaggery which is the closest substitute to white sugar is used in preparing ukadiche modaks. It can be used exactly like sugar as you get in powder, solid and liquid form. Adding jaggery to your mithais or eating a small amount of jaggery can actually fulfil your daily requirement of iron. Here are 5 Traditional Dishes You Can Prepare at Home for this Ganpati Festival. 

Ghee Ups Your Metabolism

Adding ghee to modaks, can provide a healthy source of fats supporting a balanced metabolism, digestion, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Nutritionally, ghee contains high amounts of vitamin A, conjugated linoleic acid, and butyric acid which makes it a potentially therapeutic food.

Cardamom Prevents Acidic Bouts

Cardamom is great for curing and preventing digestive issues. Other than this, the addition of this fragrant spice can also boost your digestive health. The cooling effects of cardamom, despite being a spice, can help in relieving acidity.

Almond Lifts Your Energy Levels

And whether you choose to add almonds or cashews to your modak, the vitamins in them can help energise your body. Getting your fix of B2 in almonds helps support your body's adrenal system and works to fight fatigue. If you're dealing with depleted energy levels, eating almonds may help perk you up. Learn How to Make Malai Modak in Five Minutes, This Ganeshotsav.

Steaming is an ideal cooking technique when you are watching your calorie and fat intake. One steamed modak can fill you up with only 126 calories out of which carbohydrates account for around 80 calories and protein for 5 calories.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 05:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).