<p>Chocolates might be giving tough competition to traditional sweets, but when we think of Diwali gifting, good old dry fruits and nuts still come to mind as a first option.<br /><br /></p>.<p> In a scenario where gifting trend changes every season, presenting nuts and dry fruits like walnuts, pistachios, cashews, almonds, raisins, dates and apricots to near and dear ones hasn’t gone out of fashion for decades. <br /><br />As Diwali marks the onset of winter, dry fruits become even more suitable gifting options in view of the upcoming season. Made by dehydrating fresh fruits, the dry versions not only taste excellent but score on par in their nutrient value too if taken in controlled quantities.<br /><br />Dr. Sandhya Pandey, chief dietician, Columbia Asia Gurgaon, says, “Dry fruits like walnuts, pistachio, cashews, almonds, raisins are rich sources of vitamins. Many of them have vitamin E in abundance. <br /><br />Most of them are rich sources of Omega 3, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants and essential fats but these should not be consumed in large quantities as it would then lead to weight gain.”<br /><br />However, their intake can be increased moderately during winter season. “Though dry fruits can be consumed in any season, their intake can be increased during winter when body needs more calories and vitamins,” she says. <br /><br />Usually, the term dry fruits and dried fruits are used inter-changeably. But that is incorrect. <br /><br />Nuts like walnuts, cashew nuts and almonds are naturally dry, hence called dry fruits. On the other hand, raisins, apricots and likes are dried till they become dried fruits.<br /><br />Dry fruits and nuts are used throughout the year in cuisines and desserts but their sale sees a steep rise in the City around Diwali. <br /><br />People buy stacks of dry fruits to present to relatives, friends and official acquaintances as gifting nuts and dry fruits is considered a royal gesture. <br /><br />“We buy kgs of dry fruits, mainly walnuts, cashewnuts, pistachios, almonds and raisins, around a month prior from Khari Baoli in old Delhi. Buying packed boxes of them cost even more dear. <br /><br />We pack them at home and gift along with sweets to some. It looks decent. And unlike sweets, they don’t perish in a couple of days,” says Brijesh Kumar, a Delhi-based businessman. <br /></p>
<p>Chocolates might be giving tough competition to traditional sweets, but when we think of Diwali gifting, good old dry fruits and nuts still come to mind as a first option.<br /><br /></p>.<p> In a scenario where gifting trend changes every season, presenting nuts and dry fruits like walnuts, pistachios, cashews, almonds, raisins, dates and apricots to near and dear ones hasn’t gone out of fashion for decades. <br /><br />As Diwali marks the onset of winter, dry fruits become even more suitable gifting options in view of the upcoming season. Made by dehydrating fresh fruits, the dry versions not only taste excellent but score on par in their nutrient value too if taken in controlled quantities.<br /><br />Dr. Sandhya Pandey, chief dietician, Columbia Asia Gurgaon, says, “Dry fruits like walnuts, pistachio, cashews, almonds, raisins are rich sources of vitamins. Many of them have vitamin E in abundance. <br /><br />Most of them are rich sources of Omega 3, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants and essential fats but these should not be consumed in large quantities as it would then lead to weight gain.”<br /><br />However, their intake can be increased moderately during winter season. “Though dry fruits can be consumed in any season, their intake can be increased during winter when body needs more calories and vitamins,” she says. <br /><br />Usually, the term dry fruits and dried fruits are used inter-changeably. But that is incorrect. <br /><br />Nuts like walnuts, cashew nuts and almonds are naturally dry, hence called dry fruits. On the other hand, raisins, apricots and likes are dried till they become dried fruits.<br /><br />Dry fruits and nuts are used throughout the year in cuisines and desserts but their sale sees a steep rise in the City around Diwali. <br /><br />People buy stacks of dry fruits to present to relatives, friends and official acquaintances as gifting nuts and dry fruits is considered a royal gesture. <br /><br />“We buy kgs of dry fruits, mainly walnuts, cashewnuts, pistachios, almonds and raisins, around a month prior from Khari Baoli in old Delhi. Buying packed boxes of them cost even more dear. <br /><br />We pack them at home and gift along with sweets to some. It looks decent. And unlike sweets, they don’t perish in a couple of days,” says Brijesh Kumar, a Delhi-based businessman. <br /></p>
