This Onam, be aware of the calorie intake before feasting on sadyas

Onam is just a day away, and we are sure that most of you must have made arrangements for a sadya, the traditional Kerala feast. The sadya, once limited to Malayali households––regardless of geography––has now become a commercialised offering, and accessible to a lot more people. From sadyas at five-star hotels to ones cooked by home chefs, options are plenty.

These sadyas offer over a dozen dishes but the authentic Kerala feast has more than 26. According to Ayurveda, every sadya needs to offer six flavours; there should be dishes that are spicy, salty, sweet, sour, bitter and astringent.

Here’s an Onam gift from us to all weight watchers. Before you feast on a sadya this Onam, be aware of the calorie intake, and thank us later, and Jisha Rose Joseph, senior dietician, Kinder Hospital, Ernakulam.

A Keralite family in Ahmedabad celebrate Onam Festival by welcoming King Mahabali with a Covid-19 vaccination themed flower carpet. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

A decent sadya will give you at least 2115 kilo calories.

Here’s an item-wise calorie breakdown:

Upperi (banana chips): 4 pieces – 60 calories

Jaggery coated banana chips : 4 pieces – 120 calories

Banana : 1 – 60 calories

Thoran (dry vegetable dish using cabbage, carrot, coconut): 3 tablespoons – 60 calories

Ginger curry: 1 tablespoon – 50 calories

Pickles: One teaspoon each (lemon, mango) – 20 calories

Pachadi: One tablespoon – 60 calories

Kichadi: 2 tablespoons – 60 calories

Koottu curry: 2 tablespoons – 120 calories

Avial: One serving – 200 calories

Olan: 2 tablespoons – 80 calories

Rice: One-and-a-half cups – 270 calories

Dal: 2 teaspoons – 40 calories

Ghee: 1 teaspoon – 45 calories

Pappadam: 2 – 160 calories

Sambar: 1 serving – 80 calories

Kalan: 1 serving – 60 calories

Rasam: 1 cup – 30 calories

Milk payasam: 1 serving – 260 calories

Jaggery payasam: 1 serving – 240 calories

Buttermilk: One serving – 40 calories

Needless to say, the calorie intake will fluctuate according to the level of your indulgence.

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