The display of highly nutritious, dry-fruit packed sweets at various bakeries of the twin cities shows that the winter season has finally arrived.
Traditional sweets, including halwas, panjeeris and marundas – associated with the chilly season in Pakistan–are high in demand following the dip in mercury.
Not only are these sweets extremely delicious, they are also a rich source of energy and help in keeping warm as the weather turns cold.
Different kinds of traditional sweets were usually cooked at home using high quantity of oil and dried fruits with the advent of the winter season. However, with the community’s lifestyle changes more and more women opt to work instead of staying at home, bakeries are providing people the option to buy these ready-made delicacies.
In the past, it was common practice of elderly aunts and grandmothers to cook a variety of halwas, panjeeris, murandas with pure oil, using semolina, eggs, different grain flour, rice flour, wheat flour, cornfloor etc with high quantity of sugar, gur or shakar and heavy amount of dried fruits for keeping their children fit and avoid cold affects in cold season.
In winter as the nights are longer than summers and outdoor activities are restricted after sunset, people enjoy a variety of these sweets with hot tea, coffee or kahwa in their cozy rooms while sitting in front of heaters or stoves.
Asma Nisar, a government school teacher buying panjeeri at Sector I-8 market said, “My children like these sweets very much. I used to prepare them at home but now due to my job and other family responsibilities, it is not possible for me to do so therefore I buy them from the market to treat my children.”
She said that panjeeri is highly nutritious and helps regulate body temperature thus keeping children away from diseases. “I make sure my children consume it in winter as an essential part of their diet.”
Dr Asma Sheikh said that that dry fruits and nuts are full of protein, fiber and healthy fats.
However, she added that dried fruits and nuts are a rich source of calories and therefore advised people to keep a check on the portions they consume to manage their weight and keep diseases at bay.
She recommended people to eat unpacked dried fruit rather than preserved one in tins or packed food as these contain heavy amount of chemicals which are not good for health.
