Diwali is coming next week on 20 October 2025, but wait, don’t tell us you are not prepared for a healthy Diwali yet! Diwali is the festival of lights, and you will all agree, also the festival of snacks and sweets. But for people dealing with heart disease, hypertension, or high cholesterol, the festive table can be a tricky thing. Fried namkeens, sugary desserts, and sweetened drinks can weigh heavily on the heart more than we imagine.
Now, we know most people will take Diwali as an excuse. It’s a once-a-year festival after all, but it’s not that easy. To see why, read ahead!
Can you celebrate Diwali without worrying about your heart?
Absolutely yes. With some clever food swaps and heart-healthy cooking techniques, you can savor each and every bite safely.
In this blog, we’ll share simple, tasty, and heart-healthy Diwali recipes for heart patients, crafted with guidance from the experts at SAAOL Heartcare.
Why Heart Patients Need Special Diwali Recipes
Festive foods are mostly rich in oil, sugar, and salt, all the factors that can elevate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. For heart patients, moderation and mindful choices are key to celebrating without stress.
Common Diwali Foods That Stress the Heart
- Deep-fried snacks like chakli, sev, pakora, and mathri
- Creamy sweets such as gulab jamun, barfi, and laddoo
- Sugary drinks, desserts, and even alcohol
These foods can be up there with the best taste, but they are quick to increase triglycerides and bring on post-meal fatigue, especially for those with existing cardiac conditions.
How the Right Food Choices Help
- Keeps blood pressure and cholesterol levels stable
- Reduces inflammation and post-meal heaviness
- Supports smooth digestion and heart rhythm
Dr. Vishal Sharma, COO at SAAOL Heartcare:
“Festive food isn’t the enemy; it’s excess oil, sugar, and portion size that can make things risky. When you find the balance, enjoyment takes its place again on your plate.”
Heart-Healthy Snacks for Diwali
The Diwali party is all about snacking. But “snack” doesn’t have to translate into deep-fried. Here, a few simple, healthy Diwali snack recipes for heart patients that still deliver the crunch and flavor minus the cholesterol.
1. Roasted Makhana Chaat
Ingredients:
-2 cups fox nuts (makhana)
-Chopped cucumber, onion, and tomato
-Roasted peanuts or chana (optional)
-Lemon juice, mint leaves, and chaat masala
Method:
-Dry roast makhanas until crispy in a pan.
-Toss with chopped vegetables, lemon juice, and spices.
-Toss in a little mint and some roasted peanuts for crunch.
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
Makhana is packed with protein, fibre, and magnesium, all beneficial for heart rhythm and cholesterol control.
2. Baked Samosa with Veg Filling
Ingredients:
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-Mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, beans, and paneer)
-Spices: cumin, turmeric, garam masala
Method:
-Make a dough with lukewarm water.
-Stir the veggie filling with turmeric and cumin in a pan.
-Make samosas, use a little water wherever necessary.
-Bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until golden.
Tip: Try air-frying instead of deep-frying; it cuts oil by 100%.
Garima Arora, Head Nutritionist, SAAOL Heartcare:
“Diwali recipes for heart patients can look festive too. It’s all about the method, bake, grill, or roast instead of frying.”
3. Sprout Salad Bhel
Ingredients:
-1 cup mixed sprouts (moong, chana, matki) boiled
-Chopped onion, tomato, and cucumber
-Lemon juice and coriander
-Asafoetida, Black salt, and roasted jeera powder
Method:
-Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
-Stir in lemon juice at the last minute for a hit of freshness.
-Garnish with coriander leaves and puffed rice (if using).
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
Packed with plant protein, fibre, and antioxidants, this bhel is good for your heart and digestion.
4. Grilled Paneer or Tofu Tikka
Ingredients:
-100 g low-fat paneer or tofu
-2 tbsp curd (low-fat)
-Turmeric, cumin, ginger-garlic paste, and lemon juice.
Method:
-Marinate cubes of paneer/tofu in curd mixture for 30 minutes.
-Grill or air fry until golden and a bit charred.
-Serve with mint chutney (without oil). You can make tomato chutney by grinding tomatoes+water+green chilies, and salt.
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
Protein-rich and oil-free, this snack keeps you full longer without affecting lipid levels.
For detailed recipes and Diwali special diet plans, consult our expert dieticians at SAAOL Heartcare Delhi
Healthy Sweets for Heart Health
Diwali without mithai is no Diwali — but the ghee + refined sugar combo hurts the heart. These sugar-free Diwali recipes for cardiac patients bring back the sweet, not the risk.
1. Sugar-Free Dates & Ragi Laddoo
Ingredients:
-1 cup ragi flour
-½ cup chopped dates
Method:
-Now, dry-roast ragi flour until fragrant.
-Blend dates into a thick paste.
-Combine all the contents and make small laddoos out of it.
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
No added sugar, brimming with iron and fibre, great for energy and cholesterol.
2. Oats and Makhana Kheer with Toned Milk
Ingredients:
-½ cup oats and makhana
-2 cups toned milk
-1 tbsp chopped dates
-Cardamom powder for aroma
Method:
-Cook oats and makhana in milk until thick and creamy.
-Add dates and cardamom.
-Serve immediately, or refrigerate and enjoy as a cool dessert.
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that helps lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
3. Baked Apple with Cinnamon
Ingredients:
-1 apple
-Cinnamon powder
Method:
-Slice the apple and sprinkle cinnamon
-Bake at 180°C for 10–12 minutes.
-Serve warm for a comforting dessert.
Why It’s Heart-Friendly:
No oil, no sugar, just antioxidants and fibre that support heart and digestive health.
4. Besan Ladoo (No Ghee)
Ingredients:
-1 cup gram flour (besan)
-½ cup chopped dates
Method:
-Dry roast besan on low heat till it is aromatic.
-Blend dates into a paste and mix in.
-Shape into laddoos while warm.
For those who have both diabetes and heart disease, the sweetness should be measured, not shunned. These sugar-free Diwali special recipes for heart patients bring taste with safety.
Smart Sweeteners to Use
- Dates and figs (loaded with natural sugars and fibre)
- Stevia (natural, zero calorie)
- Jaggery (in moderation only)
Avoid: White sugar, condensed milk, and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
Light Festive Drinks
- Lemon–mint detox water
- Tulsi–ginger green tea
- Vanadey Diabetes Tea
- Coconut water (if sugar levels are stable)
A Guide for a Heart-Friendly Festive Season
There are some daily habits that can safeguard your heart despite all the holiday indulgences:
- Begin your day with fruit and fiber.
- Don’t skip meals; eat small, frequent meals.
- Consume at least 2-3 litres of water each day.
- Avoid late-night heavy dinners.
- Go for a walk or do some gentle yoga.
- Cut back on alcohol and sweetened drinks.
- Share sweets instead of finishing them alone!
- Continue doing all these 2-5 days after Diwali, as post-Diwali air pollution rises to its peak, and these steps can help you stay healthy along with staying indoors.
Author’s Note:
“When I was growing up, I loved eating Diwali laddoos, but now I have completely cut down on sweets and sugars. Telling this from my own experience, I feel so light and energetic, and also now I don’t even crave sweets. Working with heart patients, I’ve learned something even more important: the true spirit of a festival is moderation and balance”.
Scientific Evidence & Expert Advice
NIN–ICMR Report: Cutting down trans fats and refined sugars significantly lowers cardiac risk.
Dr Bimal Chhajer, Founder, SAAOL Heartcare:
“When you cut oil and sugar, even your festive food becomes medicine for your heart. Our zero-oil recipes are proof that health can taste good.”
Conclusion
You don’t have to give up festive flavours to protect your heart. This Diwali, choose baked over fried, natural over refined, and balance over excess, in short, the above-mentioned Diwali recipes for heart patients.
Because the real sweetness of Diwali lies not in sugar, but in health, togetherness, and peace of mind.
Celebrate guilt-free. Celebrate heart-smartness.
Schedule your Preventive Heart Health Consultation at SAAOL Heartcare and learn more about our zero-oil cooking programs and EECP Therapy – the safe way to naturally cure heart disease.
FAQs: Heart-Healthy Diwali Eating
Q1. Can heart patients eat Diwali snacks?
Yes, opt for baked or roasted options like makhana chaat, sprouts bhel, or baked samosas. Avoid deep-fried foods.
Q2. What Diwali sweets are safe for heart patients?
Sugar-free ragi laddoo, oats kheer, and baked apples are ideal; they use natural sugars and minimal fat.
Q3. What oil is best for heart-friendly Diwali cooking?
Prefer no oil at all. You can use a splash of water wherever necessary.
Q4. Are sugar substitutes safe for heart patients?
Natural options like dates or stevia in moderation are safe. Avoid chemical-based substitutes.
Q5. What’s the best Diwali diet plan for heart patients?
Focus on fruits, sprouts, whole grains, and vegetables. Skip processed and fried foods. Stay hydrated and move after meals.