Healthy Sweet Recipes: The festival of Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond of love and happiness between siblings and is also synonymous with sweets. A variety of dishes and sweets are prepared at home for the occasion, and sisters share the joy of the festival by feeding sweets to their brothers after tying the *Rakhi* on their wrists. If you love sweets but are conscious about weight, calories, or your diet, there is no need to completely give up on them this Raksha Bandhan.

You can choose options that offer great taste while fitting into a balanced diet. Various sweets can be prepared at home using ingredients like dates, *makhana* (fox nuts), coconut, and dry fruits. However, it is important to consume even "healthy" sweets in moderation. So, if you want to strike a balance between taste and health this Raksha Bandhan, you can try these recipes.

**Date-based Sweets**

To make date-based sweets, first warm the pitted dates slightly so they soften. Then, grind them coarsely in a mixer. Lightly roast some almonds, cashews, and walnuts in a pan, add the date paste, and mix well. Stir the mixture continuously until it starts leaving the sides of the pan. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down slightly. Shape the mixture into small *laddus* (balls) or *barfi* (squares) using your hands. Garnish with chopped dry fruits before serving.

**Coconut Laddus**

To make coconut *laddus*, lightly roast grated coconut in a pan over a low flame. Add a small amount of sugar or jaggery (according to taste) and a little milk. Cook while stirring continuously until the coconut softens and blends well with the mixture. Add chopped almonds and cashews, and cook for another two to three minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool. Finally, grease your hands with a little ghee, shape the mixture into small *laddus*, and roll them in desiccated coconut powder for a coating.

 Makhana Ladoo

To make Makhana Ladoos, first roast the makhana (fox nuts) over a low flame until they are thoroughly crisp. Once cooled, grind them coarsely in a mixer. Next, roast almonds, cashews, and walnuts in a pan with a little ghee. Add the ground makhana to this and mix well. Add a small amount of jaggery powder for flavor and sweetness. Cook the mixture for a short while, then turn off the heat. Once it cools down slightly, shape the mixture into small ladoos using your hands.

Besan Ladoo

To make Besan Ladoos, heat a small amount of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan (kadhai) and add the besan (gram flour). Roast the besan over a low flame, stirring continuously, until it turns a light golden color and releases a pleasant aroma. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down slightly. Now, add powdered sugar (or *boora*) and cardamom powder, and mix well. You may also add finely chopped almonds and cashews if desired. Once the mixture has cooled slightly, shape it into small ladoos using your hands.

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