
9 healthy, guilt-free snacks for chai time
Let's
upgrade your tea break
without killing the vibe. These
healthy chai snack alternatives
bring the flavour, the crunch, the satisfaction — minus the oil spill and post-snack guilt spiral. They're smart, snappy, and just bougie enough to make you feel like someone who owns matching glass jars.
9 healthy snacks that pair perfectly with your chai including roasted chana, fruit chaat, and more
Roasted chana
Crunchy. High-protein. Low-effort.
The Beyoncé of Indian snacks. Roasted chana gives you
fibre, satiety,
and the illusion of eating something fried — but it's secretly healthy.
No crumbs, no bloating, just pure legume excellence.
Your chai deserves this level of loyalty.
Mixed nuts
Almonds, walnuts, cashews
— the nut fam is rich, in both nutrients and energy. They've got the
good fats, brain fuel,
and that addictive crunch. Portion control, though, because they're healthy, not invisible. You're not building a squirrel's winter stash.
Makhana
Light, crispy, and oddly addictive, roasted makhana is the snack that says, 'I take care of myself but still crave spice.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
Add turmeric, a dash of pink salt, or even peri-peri if you're chaotic. It's
low-cal
but high in flex.
Pair with elaichi chai and call it wellness.
Hummus + veggie sticks
Chickpeas went to Europe and came back with a glow-up. Hummus is creamy,
protein-rich,
and way too satisfying when dunked with
crunchy cucumber
or
carrot sticks.
It's giving snack board energy on a broke-but-healthy budget.
Whole wheat khakhra
Khakhra is your Gujarati bestie who shows up with 0 drama and 100% texture. Choose
methi, jeera
, or
plain
.
Toast it, spread a little curd-based dip, and pretend you're eating nachos — just... smarter. This is what self-respect tastes like.
Fruit chaat
Fruits dressed in lemon, a pinch of black salt, and a responsible amount of masala? Now we're talking.
Apple, papaya, pomegranate
— a rainbow of fibre and flavour. Just don't drown it in chaat masala or you'll be more bloated than blessed.
Greek yoghurt with chia or flax
It's like dessert, but with a resume. Greek yoghurt gives you
probiotics
and
protein
.
Chia
or
flax
seeds are a source of
omega-3s
and crunch. Add a drip of honey if your sweet tooth refuses to mind its business.
This one's for the gut girlies and glow seekers.
Sprout salad
Sprouted moong with onions, tomato, lemon, and zero nonsense. It's the 'I meal prep and meditate' of snacks.
Full of
fiber, antioxidants
, and enough crunch to feel sinful — except it's pure virtue. Pack it cold, eat it fresh, feel smug about your decisions.
Rice cake with peanut butter
For those moments when you crave something carby and comforting but don't want to spiral.
Rice cakes bring the crunch, peanut butter brings the creamy drama. It's like the biscuit-peanut combo grew up, went to therapy, and discovered
portion control.
Also read | Why we really crave comfort food: New study reveals the psychology behind emotional eating

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Doctors: U-shaped classroom seating can be pain in the neck! Literally
Bengaluru: Taking a cue from the climax scene in Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, a Malayalam movie, many schools in south India are adopting a U-shaped seating arrangement in classrooms. A Karnataka-based child rights activist, Nagasimha Rao, has submitted a formal request to the state education minister Madhu Bangarappa, urging the implementation of a semi-circular seating pattern. Rao emphasised that this seating configuration fosters inclusivity and equal participation among students, besides eliminating back benches. However, doctors raise concerns about musculoskeletal and orthopaedic health due to such seating arrangements. "For children aged 10-12 years and beyond, prolonged sitting with bent heads during lessons can lead to muscular issues and neck pain. The concern is more relevant for teenagers aged 10-16, when academic demands intensify, requiring longer periods of seated study,'' said Dr Naveen Tahasildar, consultant spine surgeon at Sparsh Hospital, Infantry Road. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The seating arrangement could impact teachers as well. "It poses potential physical strain on teachers who need to repeatedly twist their bodies to maintain eye contact with students. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One plan. Total peace of mind. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Additionally, students sitting closer to the teacher hear better than those further away," added Dr Tahasildar. He, however, pointed out that it may not affect younger children - aged 5-10 years - much as their spines are quite flexible and their muscles are still developing. A former backbencher, Dr Kaushik Murali, a paediatric ophthalmologist at Sankara Hospital, Bengaluru believes the U-shaped seating arrangement could potentially result in refractive errors being missed. The traditional seating arrangement has several advantages, he said. "Children sitting at the back who struggle to read the board often get early eye tests. Their self-reporting of difficulty in reading is what often prompts eye examinations. In montessori settings, where pupils sit around tables, refractive errors might go unnoticed as there's less need for distance vision." Schools that mull introducing this seating arrangement can have children move their heads periodically, suggested Dr Gowri Shankar Swamy, a consultant ortho spine surgeon at DHEE Hospital. "Teachers could also consider making children switch their seats after each period," said Dr Gowri. The seating system has garnered support from educators and pupils alike, despite its limitations.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
SGPGIMS to anchor UP's prog on prevention of rheumatic heart disease
1 2 Lucknow: The state govt is set to roll out an elaborate campaign to achieve early diagnosis of rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – which affect at least 2-3 out of 1000 children in Uttar Pradesh. Prior to a full-fledged launch, a pilot of the campaign called 'RHD Roko' will be rolled out in Lucknow with the help of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) under the stewardship of the departments of medical education and health. "Recently, an outline of the campaign was finalised by the scientific advisory committee (SAC) that includes experts in cardiology from SGPGI besides agencies like Stanford Biodesign, American Heart Association, Fortis Escorts, UP National Health Mission, and others," said SGPGIMS director Prof RK Dhiman. "Departments of cardiology and cardiovascular and thoracic will anchor the efforts. The aim is to ensure early screening of children with RF or RHD through a multi-tiered clinical pathway," he said. "The main causes of RF/RHD in developing countries like ours include poor living conditions, overcrowding, and lack of a strong population-based surveillance system for problems like pharyngitis. A decline in the burden of RF/RHD in India can be achieved only with an organised approach for which this campaign was conceptualised," said head of cardiology department, SGPGIMS, Prof Aditya Kapoor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid WellnessGuide Learn more Undo The scientific committee – which is presided over by principal secretary, medical education, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma – has laid emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal (sore throat) infections to prevent RF/RHD. Underscoring the importance of a structured programme at the national and state level for prevention and control, the committee also recommended a community-based surveillance system to detect RF/RHD, based on symptoms, audible murmurs, and echocardiography. "RHD Roko's multi-tiered clinical pathway includes initial screening via simple questionnaire. Suspected cases would undergo assessment by an AI-enabled digital stethoscope for murmur detection, and echocardiography at district hospitals. The confirmed cases would be referred to SGPGIMS for tertiary care," Sharma said. He hoped that UP would serve as a model for RHD elimination across India. "The project represents a transformative effort in India's public health landscape, bringing together govt leadership, clinical expertise, technology innovation, and community engagement," he said. The programme would use field workers of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) as the first point of contact with schoolchildren, which makes it implementable. "Such models show how global innovation and local implementation can come together to solve complex health challenges," Prof Dhiman said. AI stethoscope (designed by Tricog, AI Steth India) was tested in SGPGI and found to be reliable in picking up heart disease.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Patient fell asleep mid-surgery. What happened next taught me a vital lesson'
Dr Gurneet Singh Sawhney Sir, please help me.' It was a busy Monday morning in my OPD when I heard those words. Even before he introduced himself, I could hear the anxiety in Anil's trembling voice. Frail and slumped in a wheelchair, he was accompanied by his wife who looked visibly distressed. A house help in Navi Mumbai, she had taken time off work to tend to him. An employee at a small workshop, Anil hadn't been able to report to work for the last few weeks. About a month earlier, he had started losing balance and developed blurred vision. He felt like he'd topple while walking and his speech had turned robotic. Worried, the couple had gone to a hospital to report the symptoms. There, an MRI revealed a large tumour in the pons — a critical part of the brainstem that controls vital functions. Surgery was scheduled, but at the last minute, the hospital backed out, citing high risk. Anil was sent home. He approached other hospitals but got no clear answers. Exhausted but clinging to hope, he came to us. I saw classic signs of a pontine lesion: abnormal eye movements, slurred speech, unsteady gait, cerebellar swelling. The MRI also showed unexplained cerebellar inflammation and signs of hydrocephalus — fluid buildup in the brain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Rare, Refined, and Ready Soon – Monte South is the Answer Monte South A Joint Venture between Adani Realty and Marathon Realty Learn More Undo Something didn't quite add up. We decided to proceed with a stereotactic biopsy in the brainstem, a delicate, high-stakes procedure called 'no man's land' for a reason — coma or paralysis are real possibilities. You don't see what you're doing directly; everything is guided by imaging and meticulous planning. Anil was terrified. 'Will this help me? Should I just get the whole tumour removed? Will I survive this?' His earlier experience had left him shaken. I reassured him: without the biopsy, we wouldn't know what we were truly dealing with. Despite the risks, I was confident we could carry it out safely. He consented. During the awake procedure, Anil chatted with me in Marathi about wanting to return to his village and farm again. 'Yes, definitely, we will make that happen,' I promised. But just as I reached the lesion, he suddenly dozed off. The anaesthetist panicked: 'Sir, he's not responding!' I knew what had happened. I had touched the reticular activating system — part of the brain responsible for consciousness. His sudden sleep confirmed we were exactly at the right spot. We took the sample and sent it for frozen section analysis. Then came a surprising call from the microbiologist: It was TB. I was stunned. I've seen TB affect almost every part of the body — except maybe tooth enamel — but the brainstem? That's extremely rare Dr Sawhney The pathologist confirmed abnormal tissue, likely a low-grade tumour. This was expected. But then came a surprising call from the microbiologist: It was tuberculosis (TB). I was stunned. I've seen TB affect almost every part of the body — except maybe tooth enamel — but the brainstem? That's extremely rare. 'Are you sure?' I asked. She double-checked. 'Yes.' In medical school, we're taught to look for one unifying diagnosis. But Anil had two: a tumour causing pressure and TB causing inflammation and swelling. This changed everything. We immediately began aggressive TB treatment while managing the tumour conservatively. At first, Anil improved. But within days, he became drowsy again. A follow-up MRI showed worsening hydrocephalus — a known complication when dying TB bacteria block brain fluid pathways. I performed a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure. The results were immediate. His headaches eased, he sat up, and his responses became clearer. He was discharged the next day. A week later, he returned, visibly better. Since then, his recovery has been steady. Anil now walks into my OPD with confidence. 'I'm feeling better now,' he tells me. 'And I want to feel even better.' That's my true reward. Neurosurgery is emotionally intense. You witness both miraculous recoveries and devastating outcomes. To cope, I meditate every night. But Anil's story has stayed with me. Scanning his brain taught me a vital lesson: never assume there's only one culprit. TB can be a silent player in neurology, and since Anil, I've diagnosed other cases where something hidden — like TB — was the missing piece. Medicine isn't always about finding a neat, singular answer. Sometimes, your gut tells you there's more to the story. Anil reminded me to trust that instinct and to never stop digging. Dr Sawhney is senior consultant, neurosurgery and spine surgery at Fortis Mulund & Vashi. He spoke to Sharmila Ganesan Ram