12 healthy Indian evening snacks that beat the biscuit packet

Evening hunger is real, and the problem is rarely willpower. It is that biscuits and namkeen are the only things within arm's reach.

Roasted chana is the simplest fix — protein, fibre and crunch, with no cooking at all.

Makhana roasted in a teaspoon of ghee with a pinch of salt and pepper is light and genuinely satisfying.

Boiled corn with lemon and chaat masala, sprouts chaat, and bhel made with puffed rice and plenty of vegetables all work well.

A bowl of curd with roasted flaxseed, a handful of peanuts, or paneer cubes with black salt deliver protein fast.

Fruit with a few nuts beats fruit alone — the fat and protein slow the sugar release.

Idli with chutney, dhokla, a besan chilla, or masala buttermilk round out the list for days when you want something warm.

The trick is preparation, not discipline. Keep two of these ready and the biscuit packet stops winning.