Celebrate Holi with a Handful of Colours and Almonds!

Loaded water guns and balloons waiting to find its next potential target. Faces being smeared with resplendent colours against flashing-white teeth. Children and elderlies running, dancing, playing alike, stuffing mouths with sweets and drinks. There are no brownie points for guessing it right – yes, it is time for Holi!

Fun, frolic, and food are at the very heart of Holi. And as we very enthusiastically gear up to celebrate the festival of colours, why not make some thoughtful choices too! Like protecting the skin from abrasive paints by opting for organic colours, eating right to ward off the sniffles of changing season, swapping gujiyas and other sweet delicacies with nutritious foods like almonds. Almonds are also known to be the gift of good health, making them a great gift to share with friends, family and loved ones.

Speaking about celebrating Holi, leading Bollywood actress, Soha Ali Khan said, “Everyone in my family looks forward to celebrating Holi. However, I am always careful about what my family uses and eats during this time. On Holi, I only use organic colours and paints and replace sweets with flavoured or chocolate almonds. I always opt for almonds as a snack as they are satiating and also pack in a lot of goodness such as protein, fibre, vitamin E and other vital nutrients. Besides, regular almond consumption can provide benefits across heart health ,diabetes , weight management and satiety , as well as skin health , which makes them a thoughtful gift which will surely add to the receiver’s overall wellness.”

Kannada Actress and Celebrity, Priyanka Upendra commented, “Gifts for me are very special. So, I prefer to put in a little more thought and effort while sharing gifts with my loved ones. I always add in a box of assorted almonds in the package as they are known to be a gift of good health. Comprising of a lot of good nutrients such as fibre, protein, iron, folate, almonds make for a perfect replacement of sweets.”

Nisha Ganesh, Tamil Actress and Celebrity said, “An important part of the festivities is exchanging gifts, and I make it a point to share gifts which promote a healthy lifestyle. Almonds have been and continue to be a top choice for me as they are versatile and nutritious. They can be easily included in various Indian recipes, eaten as a snack when hungry, or served to guests as a part of the festive spread. Added to that, almonds are also known to provide immunity supporting nutrients like zinc, folate, vitamin E and iron, which makes them a great gift for anyone and everyone.”

According to well-known fitness and celebrity instructor, Yasmin Karachiwala, “Holi entails a lot of fun, play and dance. Energy is at the core of this festival and in order to enjoy it, it is absolutely important to keep the energy levels up. Before you head out to immerse yourself in colour, eat a filling breakfast and supplement this with a handful of almonds. They are known to provide energy through the day when eaten daily and will fuel you to enjoy the festivities.”

Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head-Dietetics, Max Healthcare – Delhi commented, “Sharing of gifts is customary during Indian festivals since ages and Holi is no different. But as we all embrace more modern lifestyles and look for better alternatives to almost everything, it’s important for us to rethink and reflect onto our gifting choices. I would suggest looking for gifts that will not only be beneficial but also supplement the receiver’s health. Almonds are a good gifting choice for promoting heart health. According to recent research from King’s College London in adults with above-average risk of CVD, snacking on almonds every day improved endothelial function of the arteries and also reduced harmful LDL-cholesterol – both key indicators of heart health. So, this Holi, be sure to share this gift of good health with your loved ones.”

Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, said, “As we continue to stay safe during this pandemic, it is important to keep oneself and one’s family healthy. Also, since this is a time for seasonal changes, people are more prone to cold and flu which makes it all the more important to keep our immunity intact. So, this Holi, instead of sharing sweets and savories, opt for more nutritious items like almonds. Almonds are a good gifting choice as they are known to have immunity supporting nutrients like copper, zinc, folate, iron and vitamin E , which make them the perfect gift to add to the receivers’ wellbeing. This Holi, be sure to share almonds with your near and dear ones, to make a small yet impactful investment in their overall health.”

Neha Ranglani, Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach said, “Indian festivals are incomplete without fried food and mithaai or sweets. And these are also times when a lot of us experience unwanted weight gain due to over-consumption of oily foods and desserts. Almonds can be an ally as part of your meal and gifting plans. Almonds are known to have a long shelf life and can be stored for long durations, which make them a great gift. Besides this, almonds are a source of several nutrients including vitamin E, magnesium, protein, riboflavin, zinc etc. that makes them a nutritious and tasty food which in the long run, will also add to the health of your loved ones.”

Make some thoughtful changes in your gifts this Holi by gifting your loved ones a box full of assorted almonds!