Besan Chilla for Weight Loss: A Nutritious and Low-Calorie Meal Option

Besan or chickpea flour is one of the prevalent ingredients in Indian cuisine. It is made from ground chickpeas and is gluten-free and a perfect ingredient for a weight loss journey. It is considered healthier than other flours and proves its positive impact during weight loss due to its high protein and fibre content. While people are finding healthy alternatives during their weight loss journey, they ask lots of questions regarding chickpea flour that is besan, one of the prominent questions that arise in people’s minds is, is besan Chilla for weight loss? In this blog, we will find answers to many such questions and discuss all the positive impacts of incorporating besan and its product during the weight loss journey. For more information contact us.

Besan Chilla for Weight Loss: A Delicious and Nutritious Option

Besan has shown positive results while talking about weight loss, its high fibre and protein content makes it suitable for a healthy body and contributes to a feeling of fullness after eating, this controls appetite and hence reduces calorie intake. It also regulates blood sugar levels as besan has a lower glycaemic index. 

Incorporating besan into the diet can be a substitute for wheat and refined flour like rotis, pancakes, Chillas, and many more these can be more easily digested and have, many positive impacts on health. But having it in moderate amount should be remembered. 

Low-calorie content: besan has a lower calorie count, which makes it perfect for a weight loss regimen. 

Protein-rich: it has a high protein content which helps in maintaining hunger cravings and satiety and hence probes in weight loss. 

It has a low glycaemic index: because of having a low glycaemic index the food is released slowly into the bloodstream which prevents spikes in blood sugar levels. Hence, maintaining weight. 

Besan is gluten-free: while switching to gluten-free alternatives for controlling weight, besan is naturally gluten-free and hence a very good option for weight loss.  

Rich in nutrients: besan contains essential nutrients and minerals like B complex vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, and phosphorous which are important for overall health and metabolism. 

Incorporating besan into your diet can maintain a healthy lifestyle, cure many health problems related to weight gain and provide many vitamins and minerals that help regulate metabolism. However, anything consumed in large amounts may increase the risk of its negative effects also, thus, it’s important to connect with a healthcare provider for every step taken towards a healthy and stable lifestyle. 

Incorporating Besan Chilla for Weight Loss: Healthy and Delicious

While talking about besan and the ways it can be incorporated into the diet to help lose weight, one of the very common answers is besan Chilla, besan is high in vitamins and minerals, it is rich in protein and has a low glycaemic index and that is the reason it can be a crucial food during weight loss journey. 

Some of the prominent benefits of besan Chilla 

It can help reduce weight in many ways and can also be beneficial in many health problems as it has a low glycaemic index and controls blood sugar levels, which means it does not cause any sugar spikes and this can be helpful with those suffering from diabetes. Many research studies have shown that food that contains a low glycaemic index can be helpful for diabetic people in keeping a check on their blood sugar levels. 

It’s low in fat content: pancakes are a very famous option during breakfast, but while on the weight loss journey, it can be the wrong choice, Hence, opting for besan pancakes or Chillas can be more nutritious and healthier. Preparing it at home also allows one to keep a check on the consumption of oil and added calories making it healthier. 

High vitamin and mineral contents: besan has higher vitamin and mineral counts than many other food options during the weight journey, it is high in iron, magnesium, and zinc. This can help maintain weight. 

Hence besan can be helpful in many ways.

Healthy digestion: besan is rich in protein and fibre hence aiding in digestion. Protein helps repair and build muscles, and besan is full of them and eventually helps in maintaining a healthy gut by proper digestion.

Easy to make: besan Chilla is one of the easiest snacks, it can be simply made with some of the items in the house, but it can give energy and make you feel full in only a small amount. 

Ways to cook besan Chilla for weight loss

Besan Chilla or besan pancakes is one the traditional Indian snacks, it can be cooked in many different ways but while talking about healthier ways and during the weight loss journey some of the points one should remember are,

1) Avoid excess oil: while incorporating besan Chilla during the weight loss journey one should measure the amount of oil used during cooking, it should be in moderate amounts. 

2) Use different veggies: using different types of vegetables like tomato, onion, carrot, cucumber and herbs like mint and coriander will not only amplify its taste but also increase vitamin and mineral content which will further help in maintaining weight. 

3) serving of dish: besan Chilla can be served with homemade chutneys like, tomato chutney or tamarind chutney avoid market-made or processed sauces like tomato kinds of ketchup. Yoghurt can be the best choice as a side serve for the dish.

4) Avoid the use of high-calorie ingredients: ingredients like cheese, butter and excessive oil may lead to weight gain. 

Remember, excessive use of anything can be harmful, DT. RUKHSANA AZHAR founder of Diet4u shares her view of overeating with besan Chilla or gram flour, excessive use of gram flour can lead to digestive problems like diarrhoea, bloating gas, etc. hence, being supervised by a nutritionist for health-related suggestions should be promoted.

Calorie details of besan Chilla for Weight Loss

Besan contributes the most amount of calorie counts in the besan Chilla as it is the prime ingredient, therefore understanding its calorie content is crucial.

1 tablespoon of besan is approximately equal to 11gm and contains 38 calories, and a regular besan Chilla made at home may use around 3,4 tablespoons of besan or more depending upon the household use, which adds up to 90 – 150 calories, but again it can vary upon the amount of besan used. 

Oil (for cooking) on the other hand is used to provide sleekness to the Chilla to prevent it from getting stuck to the pan and to add flavour. 1 tablespoon of oil contains 120 calories but may differ on the amount of oil used while cooking hence it adds 30-40 additional calories to the Chilla.

Vegetables like tomatoes, onion, capsicum, spinach etc, are also common ingredients used in besan Chilla they add very less calories to the Chilla which can only range up to 5-10 calorie count.

Spices like turmeric, cumin seed, red chilli powder, salt, etc when added to Chilla contribute negligible amounts of calories.

Therefore, based on the above calorie breakdown one besan Chilla contains up to 150-220 calories, depending on the number and amount of ingredients used, hence it is essential to consider the portion size of the Chilla if eaten to lose weight.

Eating besan Chilla for weight loss at night

If besan Chilla is eaten keeping in mind its portion and calories it can be a dinner choice during the weight loss journey, but some things should be kept in mind,

1) watch your portion.

2) avoid the use of high-calorie products like cheese and processed chutneys.

3) eating during the eating window only, as having dinner on time can be helpful during weight loss.

4) pay attention to how the body reacts to it, as for some it can be hard to digest at night.

5) having a healthy and balanced diet is prescribed.

In short, besan Chilla can be a part of dinner but having it in moderate amounts should be kept in mind, also regulating its portion size, ingredients and calorie count should also be considered if eating with the mind of losing weight. For more information Visit Diet4u Wellness.

How to make besan Chilla For Weight Loss

It is a quick and easy snack that can be made using some healthy ingredients like,

Process:

-Take a cup of besan, add ½ cup of water to it and make it a semi-thick paste, add mixed vegetables of your choice like, carrot, tomato, onions capsicum etc. Add herbs of your choice coriander or mint. Mix it well.

-Now add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt as per taste and make it a lump-free batter. 

-Then, pour the batter on the hot pan and let it cook it on a low flame on both sides well.

– Serve hot with homemade chutney or curd.

FAQS RELATED TO BESAN CHILLA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

1) Is there a specific time to incorporate besan Chilla for weight loss?

No, there is no specific besan Chilla for weight loss, it can be consumed at any time of the day keeping in mind the calorie counts of the whole day during the weight loss journey.

2) Is it ok to use oil for cooking besan Chilla for weight loss journey?

Using a very small amount during cooking can be acceptable, but as quoted above the portion size and calorie count should be kept in mind.

3) what are some healthy ingredients that can be added to besan Chilla for weight loss journey?

onions, capsicum, tomatoes, coriander, mints, bell peppers, spices etc can be some of the healthy filling options during the weight loss regimen. 

Conclusion

Gram flour or besan, is one of the options during the weight loss journey keeping in mind its high protein content and low glycaemic index. Its gluten-free properties and low-fat content make it perfect for losing weight, but a moderate amount of use should be considered, also being in touch with professional healthcare professionals and registered dieticians should be preferred.

Dietitian Rukhsana Azhar

Hello My Name is Dt. Ruksana Azhar and I am a certified dietician and providing online & offline services for Weight Management, PCOS/PCOD Management, Diabetes Management ,  etc. I have 12+ years of experience in the Apollo Hospital Delhi , Max Super Specialty Hospital Delhi, Lilavati Hospital Mumbai and VLCC healthcare Mumbai. I  loves to write healthcare and lifestyle related blog. My favorite part of being a doctor is the opportunity to directly improve the health and wellbeing of my patients and to develop professional and personal relationships with them.