Indian is a country with diverse traditions and cultures. Another important fact is that, every cultural and ritual celebration comes with the observation of fast.
Though observing fast can be beneficial when done the right way, they can be harmful for women when observed during pregnancy. Some fasts can be foregone, some are mandatory to be followed even when a woman is pregnant. One such fasting ritual is the karvachauth fast.
These fast starts with a meal in the early morning hours before the sunrise and ends with the next meal after the sunset in the wee evening hours, with even no water consumed within this time. To avoid any complications, pregnant women can observe the fast with minimum food quantities allowed.
The karvachauth fast can be made a cake walk for these women by following a simple diet regimen and some precautionary measures.
EARLY PREPARATIONS:
Talk to your doctor – If you wish to observe the fast, do talk to your doctor to check if there are no complications involved and it is safe for you.
Listen to your body – even after the doctor has said yes, do listen to your body and check if your body can bare long such long fasting hours without complete meals.
DIET REGIMEN:
Upon waking up – 1 to 2 glasses of luke warm water. It is better absorbed by the body.
Within 15 minutes – 3-4 dates. Full of energy, nutritious and abundant amount of sugar present will keep you high on energy for longer hours.
Breakfast – Within 1.5 hours, take a huge bowl of fruits for breakfast.
Mix your choice of fruits. But do not mix too citrusy and sweet fruits together.
Do add banana, it is a complete meal and will help you stay fuller and energetic for longer.
Do add a mixture of seeds to this meal. (melon, sunflower, flax, chia, pumpkin). These seeds are nutritious, loaded with fiber, they help you stay energetic and keep mood swings at bay, maintains your blood sugar levels stable when mixed with fruits.
Mid- morning meal – A must meal with many options available.
Lemon water with sugar, black salt, salt, cardamom powder and 2-3 saffron strands.
Tender coconut water and the coconut.
Handful of cashews along if very hungry.
Lunch – A large bowl of fruits same as breakfast.
1.5hrs post lunch – a tall glass of milk with 2tsp of homemade of organic gulkand. The gulkand added will take care of your acidity and soothe the digestive system.
Evening meal – Amaranth (rajgeera) or peanut laddu or chikki.
A good and complete meal to control your hunger pangs.
The laddu or chikki preferred homemade with using organic jaggery.
Dinner – Break the fast with a small portion of Indian sweet preferably homemade.
Do not go overboard on sweets as you still have a meal to go. Overstuffed stomach will only leave you feeling uneasy.
Do not opt for any fried and heavy foods like poori, kachori or paratha in this meal. Such a meal can leave you with disturbed sleep, upset stomach and tired body the next day.
Opt for simple homemade food like dar, rice, roti and sabzi.
Add ghee to this meal to soothe your stomach, healthy gut and better bowel movement.
Add a small portion of homemade pickle, to get your blood pressure levels stable.
Do not eat out or order in this meal, as after long fasting hours, your body does need freshly prepared nutritious food and the outside food may be readily made, loaded with unhealthy fats and spices with no complete nutrition.
Bed-time – ½ cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg powder for restful sleep.
SOME TIPS TO HELP BETTER:
Stay hydrated. Keep sipping water throughput the day. Fluid intake can be increased by coconut water, lemon water, butter milk and fruit infused waters.
No raisins on this day as raisins cause loss of water from the body leaving you more hungry and thirsty.
Do not starve. It should be a point to take meal every 2 hours. Frequent meals should be taken if hungry.
No plain milk as it can elevate acidity symptoms when fasting.
The fruit bowl in lunch can be swapped with sabudana khichdi, samak rice, kuttu flor cheela or makhana kheer.
Do break the fast if not able to follow or feel uneasy anytime of the day. The fast can again be ended with khichdi or dal rice.