It's Pongal, and sure you would want to have one-on-one time with a bowl of pal payasam and a spoon. Any celebration cannot go without a sweet delicacy, but if you are trying to lose weight, sweets are one of the first things to forego. Well, not anymore. With portion control, your sweet tooth does not need to be neglected. Whether you are craving the muruku, ven pongal or the humble payasam, we give you a rundown of the calorie count of the traditional Pongal dishes. Once you know the calorie count, you can make better decisions with the portion sizes.

1. Ven Pongal

Ven pongal can be a delicious and healthy breakfast option, especially if you love South Indian spices and flavours. It is the most delicious thing you will ever eat and fill yourself up with only 94 calories. Pongal 2020 Healthy Recipes: 5 Lip-Smacking Dishes to Bring Out the Flavours of South Indian Cuisine in Your Kitchen

2. Sakkarai Pongal

Prepared with rice, jaggery and mung dal, sakkarai pongal is offered to God Indra on the first day of Pongal. While you may not be satisfied with one serving, before digging your spoon into another one, remember that a bowl of sakkarai pongal will add 150 calories to your meal.

3. Bisi Bele Bhat

Similar to khichdi, bisi bele bhat is a wholesome dish prepared with rice, lentils, vegetables and coconut. A bowl of bisi bele bhat will provide you with around 156 calories with the filling fibre keeping you full and satiated for longer. Moong Dal Halwa in Winter: Why This Sweet Dish Is the Most Loved Dessert of the Cold Season

4. Tamarind Rice

The tamarind rice is another South Indian favourite that tastes best with plain rice. A bowl of tamarind rice will fill you up with 180 calories, so maybe you can go for a tablespoon or two more if you are still hungry. Sesame Seeds For Winter: Why Til Ka Laddoo, Revadi And Other Sweet Dishes Should Be Eaten in Cold Season; (Watch Recipe Videos)

5. Vada

All of us love the South Indian hit vada, but just one vada contains around 226 calories. So no matter how tempted you are to dip another vada in that coconut chutney, try and keep your hands away.

6. Muruku

One muruku contains around 57 calories, so if you are eating two, you are quickly filling yourself up with over a hundred calories. This will be your real test of self-control. Gajar Ka Halwa Is Your Winter Superfood! 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat This Carrot Dessert to Improve Your Health

7. Pal Payasam

With a bowl of pal payasam, you are downing 300 calories at a time. Sure the ingredients that go into this sweet dish are healthy, but you cannot neglect the calories, especially if you are watching the weight.

For these are wondering, how did we get the low-down on the calories of these niche dishes, we have calculated these calories using HealthifyMe calorie counter, the world's first Indian nutrition tracker.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2020 02:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).