Diwali is a time for festive treats, family gatherings and sharing delicious food. From traditional sweets to savoury snacks, the celebrations offer plenty of reasons to indulge. However, enjoying the festive season need not mean putting mindful eating aside. With a growing range of alternatives made with ingredients such as millets, legumes, nuts and protein-rich blends, it is possible to bring more variety to the festive table.

Whether it is a quick bite between preparations, an evening snack with tea or something to share with family and friends, these options offer different ways to enjoy familiar flavours while being more conscious of the ingredients in your food.

Gladful: Everyday Favourites with Thoughtful Ingredients

Gladful brings together familiar foods and convenient options for festive mornings and everyday snacking. Its pancake mixes, made with sprouted millets and legumes, offer an easy way to add variety to breakfast during the busy festive season.

The brand also offers chilla, dosa and upma mixes for families looking for convenient alternatives to prepare at home. For those who enjoy a touch of sweetness, Gladful's chocolate spreads can be paired with pancakes and fruit or enjoyed as part of a leisurely breakfast with loved ones.

From quick breakfast preparations to sweet additions for shared meals, the range offers options for different moments during the festive season.

Instagram: @be.gladful
Website: gladful.in

Australian Almonds: A Crunchy Addition to Festive Snacking

Almonds are a familiar addition to festive snack bowls, homemade treats and traditional recipes. Australian almonds bring a naturally sweet flavour, a satisfying crunch and a premium option for those looking to add variety to their Diwali celebrations.

They can be enjoyed on their own, served alongside other dry fruits or incorporated into homemade festive preparations. Available through leading dry fruit retailers and major e-commerce platforms across India, Australian almonds offer a convenient option for everyday snacking and festive gatherings.

Website: Australian Almonds
Instagram: @australianalmonds.india

The Cinnamon Kitchen: Almond Flour & Cacao Protein Cookie

For those who enjoy a sweet treat with a protein boost, The Cinnamon Kitchen offers its Almond Flour & Cacao Protein Cookie. Made with almond butter and chunks of dark chocolate, the cookie combines rich flavours with a buttery, flaky texture.

Each cookie contains 7.8 grams of protein and is naturally sweetened with coconut sugar. The product is made without maida, dairy or preservatives and is described as a grain-free option for those looking to explore different ingredients in their festive treats.

With its combination of almond butter, cacao and dark chocolate, the cookie offers a convenient sweet snack for those who want to balance indulgence with more mindful ingredient choices.

Instagram: @cinnamonkitchenindia | @priyashanotpriyashah
Website: The Cinnamon Kitchen

Chilean Walnuts: Bringing Freshness and Crunch to the Table

Chilean walnuts offer another option for festive snack bowls, combining a satisfying crunch with their extra-light colour, larger size and high yield. Harvested during Chile's southern hemisphere season, they provide an additional source of walnuts when supplies from some other origins may be relatively limited.

These walnuts can be enjoyed on their own, paired with other nuts and dried fruits or added to homemade snacks and festive recipes. Their versatility makes them a convenient ingredient for households looking to add more variety to their Diwali spread. Available across India through leading dry fruit retailers and e-commerce platforms, Chilean walnuts can be part of both everyday snacking and festive food preparations.

Website: Chilean Walnuts
Instagram: @chilewalnuts.india

American Pecans: A Rich and Buttery Festive Treat

American pecans bring a distinctive flavour to festive snacking with their rich, buttery taste and satisfying crunch. They can be enjoyed on their own, combined with other nuts in snack bowls or added to homemade desserts and festive treats.

Their distinctive taste and versatility offer another way to introduce variety to the festive table, whether served during family gatherings or enjoyed as a snack between celebrations.

Website: American Pecan
Instagram: @americanpecan.india

Making Mindful Choices This Diwali

Festive eating is as much about sharing food and enjoying familiar flavours as it is about discovering something new. Options such as millet-based mixes, protein-rich cookies, almonds, walnuts and pecans provide different ways to add variety to Diwali snacks.

From convenient breakfast preparations to crunchy nuts and chocolate-based treats, these products offer choices for different tastes and occasions. By paying attention to ingredients, portion sizes and individual dietary needs, families can enjoy the festive season while making food choices that suit their preferences. After all, Diwali is about celebrating togetherness, and a thoughtfully prepared snack spread can be another way to make those moments memorable.

Taj Coromandel, Chennai, has unveiled its Diwali gifting collection, bringing together traditional Indian sweets, gourmet delicacies, festive décor and luxury lifestyle products in a range of curated hampers starting at ₹1,650.

Titled around the spirit of festive giving, the collection features ten hampers, Umang, Nakshatra, Prithvi, Aakash, Tejas, Udarsh, Ari, Subham, Divyam and Coromandel, catering to different gifting preferences, from traditional festive gestures to premium personal and corporate gifts.

The hampers combine seasonal favourites such as assorted Indian sweets, cookies, nuts and chocolates with products including signature tea blends, Araku coffee, traditional diyas, decorative torans, Forest Essentials grooming collections and lifestyle accessories. Selected offerings also include Pashmina and silk stoles, designer cufflinks, fragrances and auspicious Ganesha idols.

Among the featured options, the Tejas Hamper, priced at ₹7,500 plus taxes, brings together festive décor, artisanal chocolates, home-baked cookies, assorted Indian sweets, a signature honey duo, Araku coffee, green tea and other gourmet treats. Presented in a hamper box, it combines familiar festive flavours with seasonal essentials.

The Ari Hamper, priced at ₹25,000 plus taxes, offers a more extensive selection. Its contents include a designer tie, a fine silk stole, Forest Essentials grooming kits, gourmet French macarons, homemade baklava, a J Wellness Circle sleep kit, premium Indian sweets and a dancing Ganesha with potli bags.

At the higher end of the collection, the Divyam Hamper is priced at ₹1,00,000 plus taxes and presented in a designer hamper basket. Its assortment includes Himalayan saffron, roasted nuts, gourmet macarons, handmade chocolates, a cashmere zari reversible shawl, a tie and cufflink set, a Cross fine writing instrument, a silver-plated brass Ganesha idol and premium beauty, fragrance and wellness products.

The collection's most premium offering is the Coromandel Hamper, priced at ₹5,00,000 plus taxes. The designer basket includes handcrafted Indian sweets, sugar-free mithai, gourmet brownies, assorted chocolates, Himalayan saffron, Araku coffee, a 22-karat gold coin weighing 5 grams and a silver Ganesha idol weighing 20 grams. Luxury additions include a Montblanc wallet and writing instrument, a cashmere zari reversible shawl, fragrances, Forest Essentials collections, J Wellness Circle products and a set of designer coffee mugs with a tray.

With options spanning different price points, Taj Coromandel's festive collection brings together traditional Indian gifting elements and contemporary luxury products. The offering caters to guests looking to celebrate Diwali with family and friends, as well as organisations seeking distinctive gifts for clients and business associates.

Through the collection, the Chennai hotel brings together festive traditions, gourmet indulgence and premium lifestyle products in a gifting programme centred on the spirit of Diwali.

Diwali Gifting Collection at a Glance

• Hotel: Taj Coromandel, Chennai

• Collection: Diwali Festive Hampers

• Tejas Hamper

• Ari Hamper

• Divyam HamperCoromandel Hamper

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has unveiled The Art of Festive Gifting, a curated Diwali collection bringing together traditional Indian sweets, gourmet treats and festive keepsakes for personal and corporate gifting.

Inspired by the colours and traditions of Diwali, the collection moves beyond conventional sweet boxes to offer a mix of mithai, dry fruits, baklava, chocolates, flavoured nuts, teas, scented candles and decorative accents. The selection caters to those looking to share festive gifts with family and friends, as well as corporate associates and business partners.

The collection features several hampers across different price points. Festive Treasures by Sheraton, priced at ₹8,999, combines sweets, gourmet treats and festive keepsakes. Luxe Indulgence, available for ₹4,999, brings together teas, dry fruits, brass diyas and scented candles, offering a mix of gourmet and decorative elements.

For those seeking traditional festive flavours, the Royal Mithai Collection, priced at ₹2,999, combines Indian sweets with baklava. Smaller gifting options include Mithai Treasury at ₹1,499, Nutty Nirvana at ₹1,399 and Chocolate Symphony at ₹899, featuring traditional sweets, gourmet nuts and assorted chocolates.

With prices starting at ₹899, the collection offers a range of choices for different gifting needs, combining familiar festive favourites with contemporary gourmet offerings.

Through The Art of Festive Gifting, Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel brings together seasonal flavours and thoughtful keepsakes, offering guests a selection suited to both intimate celebrations and professional relationships during Diwali.

Gifting Collection Details

• Collection: The Art of Festive Gifting

• Hotel: Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel

• Festive Treasures by Sheraton: ₹8,999

• Luxe Indulgence: ₹4,999

• Royal Mithai Collection: ₹2,999

• Mithai Treasury: ₹1,499

• Nutty Nirvana: ₹1,399

• Chocolate Symphony: ₹899

• Price Range: ₹899 onwards