Hydrating Foods: What To Eat Before And After Karwa Chauth Vrat

Karwa Chauth vrat is as much about listening to your body as it is about devotion and a testament to love. While you fast for your partner, also ensure you’re taking care of yourself. To make sure you’re hydrated throughout the day, here are the best ingredients to eat before and after the fast.

Karwa Chauth is one of the most beautiful ways to show love and devotion to your partner. The day involves keeping a nirjala vrat, aka fasting without food and water. While traditionally, women kept a fast for their husbands to pray for their health and longevity, in recent years, men have also started to step up to show the same level of dedication towards their wives.

However, even though the sentiment behind fasting all day long without drinking water or eating food is good, it can be physically challenging. Since dehydration can make you dizzy, fatigued, and nauseated, it’s smart to plan ahead and ensure you add some hydrating foods to your Sargi, the predawn meal. While preparing the Sagi thali, note that the key isn’t to chug a couple of glasses, but to pick ingredients with high water content.

From fresh fruits to coconut water, what you eat before sunrise will help to keep you hydrated and also provide sustained energy. So, if your next meal on Karwa Chauth is after the moonrise, this guide will help you select the best ingredients for Sargi and break the fast after the moon rises.

What To Include In Sargi

Sargi, the meal you have before sunrise on Karwa Chauth has to be high in water content and also should provide slow-releasing energy. Here are some options you can add to your Sargi.

Pomegranate 

The iron-rich fruit, pomegranate, is an impeccable option to eat for Sargi. Since pomegranates have more than 80% water content, and are packed with fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and K, you can peel the fruit and eat a bowl before the Karwa Chauth vrat. With natural sugars in the fruit, you’ll get a steady stream of energy without a sudden spike. And the fibre content will keep you feeling full for a longer time.

Coconut Water

One of the most essential beverages to include in your Sargi has to be coconut water. As a natural isotonic drink, coconut water is rich in electrolytes, which help balance the body’s fluids and prevent muscle cramps and fatigue. You can simply have a glass of nariyal pani before sunrise and keep your body hydrated and energetic throughout the day.

Soaked Almonds And Walnuts

Even though dry fruits and nuts might come across as hydrating ingredients, they can make your Sargi thali nutritionally balanced. With healthy fats, protein, and fibre, eating soaked almonds and walnuts will help you sustain energy, especially when fasting all day. While you can have the nuts as is, soaking will make the digestion easier and increase the nutritional value. 

Cucumber

Cucumber, or kheera, also boasts a high water content. Thanks to its light and cooling properties, you must add chopped kheera to your Sargi thali, have it as a smoothie, or add it to your raita. In all forms, cucumber can boost the hydration levels and prevent acidity and bloating. If you usually feel nauseated whenever you fast, you can grate some cucumber, mix it with curd, and enjoy a bowl of raita to keep your stomach at ease.

Curd

Curd, aka dahi, is a staple in most Indian homes, and for all the right reasons. For Karwa Chauth vrat, when you need to stay hydrated, there’s nothing better than pairing your Sargi meal with a bowl of curd. Since it has cooling properties, it prevents acidity and also keeps your body’s temperature regulated. Being a natural probiotic, eating curd will keep your digestive system healthy, which is essential since you would not be eating solid foods all day long. You can have it in the form of curd, make lassi, or make raita, as per your preference.

What To Eat After The Moonrise

After fasting for the whole day without both food and water, your body will be dehydrated, and the digestive system will be a little sensitive. So, instead of munching on oily snacks or having an elaborate meal, here are some light and hydrating options you should eat.

Fruits And Juice

After breaking the Krwa Chauth vrat with a glass of water, the next thing you should have is some fresh fruit juice. You can also have a bowl of freshly chopped fruits that are rich in water, like watermelon, orange, muskmelon, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, etc. If you’re having a glass of juice, make sure you’re making it fresh with fruits, instead of relying on the preservative and sugar-laden tetra packs. 

Vegetable Soup

Combining your favourite vegetables, you can make yourself a warm bowl of soup. After a long day of fasting, soup can be extremely hydrating, nourishing, and super easy to digest. You can make it with some basic kitchen ingredients like tomatoes, lauki, carrots, peas, beans, and so on. Boil until the veggies are tender, blend them, and cook the soup with ginger-garlic paste. Season it with a blend of spices like red chilli powder, dhania powder, salt, etc. Once the soup boils, pair it with a toasted bread, and soothe your body.

Khichdi

There’s nothing better to have than the one-pot meal khichdi. Since it’s made with rice and dal, you get all the nutrients in one bowl, and that too really quickly. The light and comforting meal will be ready in less than half an hour, and the perfect balance of carbohydrates and proteins will help restore your energy levels. You can also pair the khichdi with a bowl of raita and a side of salad for a wholesome meal. And since you’d not want to spend too much time in the kitchen after the Krawa Chauth, khichdi is an impeccable option to end the day.