What I Eat When I Fast (And Why It Works for Me)
I fast for two days a week.
Monday is for Shiv ji.
Tuesday belongs to Hanuman ji.
No drama. No deprivation. No complicated vrat thalis that need a PhD in ingredients.
Just a system I’ve built over the years — because consistency beats enthusiasm every single time.
My One Golden Rule of Fasting
I don’t eat cereals all day.
Come dinner, I eat a normal home-cooked meal.
Simple. Sustainable. Sanity-saving.
Fasting, for me, is about discipline, devotion, and digestion — not about starving or showing off.
Daytime Fasting Food: Simple, Seasonal, Satisfying
Fruits — Always Seasonal
Whatever the season offers, that’s what goes on my plate.
No imported berries pretending to be holy. Nature already knows the timing.
Potatoes: The Star of My Fasting Plate
Potato is the most loyal vrat companion — flexible, filling, and forgiving.
Here’s how I keep it interesting without complicating my life:
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| Aloo tikki |
1. Simplified Aloo Tikki (My Way)
If potatoes are small:
Wash well (jacket on)
Boil ( Only 2 whistles - one on full heat, the other on sim)
Press gently
Air-fry/ shallow fry till crisp outside, soft inside
Sprinkle salt, red chilli powder, and chaat masala
Finish with a little ghee (because flavour matters)
If potatoes are big:
Boil
Cut into thick chips
Shallow fry or air-fry
Masalas go on after cooking — always
2. Raw Potato Tikki (When I’m Feeling Efficient)
Grate raw potatoes
Wash well to remove excess starch
Add salt and fasting-allowed masalas
Shape into tikkis
Cook on a tawa or an air-fryer
Crisp edges. Soft centre. Zero fuss.
Chaat Without Guilt (Because I Love Curd)
I love curd — so fasting or not, chaat is non-negotiable.
🥣 My Fasting Chaat Line-up
Aloo Tikki Chaat with curd, green chutney & tamarind chutney
Aloo Raita Chaat (even easier, equally satisfying)
Fruit Chaat
Makhane Dahi Chaat
Think dahi vada vibes — minus the heaviness
Cooling, nourishing, and deeply comforting.
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| Makhana Dahi Vada vibes! |
Tea-Time Namkeen: Homemade & Honest
Store-bought vrat snacks don’t excite me.
So I make my own roasted moongphali + makhana mix.
My Secret Trick (This Makes All the Difference)
Roast peanuts and makhana in the air-fryer
Take them out hot
Immediately add:
Salt
Fasting masalas
A little ghee
That’s when everything chipak jaata hai — the masala clings, the flavour deepens, and the snack suddenly feels indulgent.
Perfect with tea. Perfect for restraint.
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| Gajar Ka Halwa |
Fasting Sweets I Truly Love
❄️ Winter Specials (My Weak Spot)
Gajar ka halwa — yes, during fasting
Shakarkandi kheer
Makhana kheer
Warm, gentle, and guilt-free. Because devotion doesn’t mean denying joy.
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| Vrat ki Thali - Saboodaana khichadi, curd, shakarkandi chaat |
How I Manage the Household (Without Making Two Kitchens)
Since it’s usually just me fasting, I don’t turn the house upside down.
RB keeps it simple:
Breakfast or brunch like:
Aloo sabzi
Aloo-gobhi
Poori
I eat the vegetable, skip the poori, and everyone stays happy.
No resentment. No special menus. No martyrdom.
And many times, RB opts for saboodana khichadi with tikki chaat.
Why My System Works
Because it’s:
Repeatable
Low-effort
Rooted in tradition
Adapted to modern tools (hello, air-fryer)
Faith thrives when life is simple.
Fasting works when food doesn’t feel like punishment.
This is not the right way to fast —
It’s my way.
Built slowly. Tested weekly. And lived joyfully.
If you’re fasting too, build your own rhythm.
God listens better when the stomach is calm and the mind is steady.
Neerja Bhatnagar
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