Can we eat almonds in fast? Yes. Vrat me badam kha sakte hai: plain almonds are widely eaten in Navratri, Ekadashi and Shivratri fasts and do not break a vrat. In intermittent fasting they suit your eating window but end a strict fast.
Quick answers: almonds and fasting
- Navratri: Yes. Many people eat plain badam during Navratri. Follow your family's rules.
- Ekadashi, Shivratri, Janmashtami: Yes. Dry fruits are common in falahari fasts.
- Does badam break a vrat? No. Badam se vrat nahi tutta. Most vrats avoid grains, pulses and regular salt, not nuts.
- Salted almonds: Only if they are salted with sendha namak (rock salt).
- Intermittent fasting: Not in the fasting window. Yes in the eating window.
Fasting rules differ by family, region and sampradaya. If your family keeps a stricter vrat, such as nirjala or no dry fruits at all, follow that.
Can we eat almonds in Navratri, Ekadashi and other Hindu fasts?
In Hindu practice a vrat or upvas usually means leaving out grains, pulses and ordinary salt, while fruit, milk and nuts are allowed. Almonds are treated as Sattvic food: simple, natural and unprocessed. The Bhagavad Gita (chapter 17, verse 8) describes Sattvic food as that which supports life, strength and well-being, and Ayurveda has long suggested soaked badam as nourishing.
Navratri vrat me badam
Navratri me badam kha sakte hai: yes, soaked or dry. Almonds give people who avoid grain a steady mix of fat, protein and fibre. Soaked almonds are softer and easier to chew in the morning. Our guide to soaked almonds explains the method.
Ekadashi, Shivratri and Janmashtami
Almonds are eaten raw or in falahari dishes during these fasts. They help you stay full through a long day without cooking. Choose whole almonds over fried packaged vrat snacks, since you can see exactly what you are eating. See the Mamra Badam and California almonds product pages for the full description.
Can you drink badam shake in vrat?
Badam shake vrat me pi sakte hai? In most Hindu fasts, yes. It does not break the vrat if it contains only:
- Milk, or a milk alternative that suits your fast
- Soaked, peeled almonds
- A natural sweetener such as sugar, mishri, honey or dates
- Optional cardamom or saffron
Skip ready-made mixes, flavoured powders and added colours, since they often contain ingredients that are not vrat-friendly. A simple shake: soak 8 to 10 almonds overnight and peel them, blend with a cup of cold milk, a teaspoon of mishri or two dates and a pinch of cardamom, and serve fresh.
Kaju, badam and other dry fruits in vrat
Vrat me kaju badam kha sakte hai? Yes. Both are commonly eaten during fasts. The table shows other dry fruits that people usually take, and what each is used for.
| Dry fruit | Usually eaten in a Hindu fast? | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds (badam) | Yes | Morning energy, shakes |
| Dates (khajur) | Yes | Quick energy, breaking the fast |
| Walnuts (akhrot) | Yes | Afternoon snack |
| Cashews (kaju) | Yes | Keeps you full |
| Raisins (kishmish) | Yes | Sweetness in shakes and lassi |
| Makhana (fox nuts) | Yes, if roasted with ghee and sendha namak | Light evening snack |
Look at our W180 whole cashews for plain whole kaju, our walnut kernels and our dates. For a longer list of names, see the dry fruit names guide.
Do almonds break a fast in intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is about timing, not religion. Almonds are calorie-dense. According to USDA FoodData Central, a handful of about 23 almonds (28 g) has roughly 160 to 165 calories. That is enough to end a strict fast. Almonds are about 50% fat, which is why a handful carries so many calories.
- Fasting window: Leave almonds out. If you want a zero-calorie fast, stay with water, plain tea or black coffee.
- Eating window: Almonds work well. Protein, fibre and fat help you stay full, and they make a sensible first food after a fast.
Some people follow a looser version that allows a few calories in the fasting window. That is a personal rule, so decide it before you start and stick to it.
How much to eat in a fast
Dry fruits are dense in energy, so more is not better. A small handful of mixed dry fruits across the day is common during a vrat. Portions depend on your age, activity and health, so treat this as a loose guide rather than a rule.
- Almonds: a small handful, often soaked and eaten in the morning.
- Cashews and walnuts: a few pieces as a mid-morning or afternoon snack.
- Dates: one or two when you break the fast.
- Raisins: a spoonful in a shake or lassi.
- Makhana: a small bowl as an evening snack.
If you have a nut allergy, diabetes, kidney stones or take regular medicines, ask your doctor or dietitian before you change what you eat during a fast. See also how many almonds to eat daily.
What to eat in a fast: a sample vrat day
- Morning: Water or coconut water, then a small handful of soaked almonds and a date or two.
- Mid-morning: A fruit such as banana, apple or papaya, with a few cashews.
- Lunch: Sabudana khichdi or kuttu roti with curd, cooked with sendha namak.
- Afternoon: Badam shake, mango lassi or buttermilk, plus a few walnut halves.
- Evening: Roasted makhana or a bowl of fruit with mixed dry fruits.
- Night: A light meal such as samak rice, and a glass of warm milk.
Drink plenty of water or nimbu pani through the day and avoid very oily snacks. Small regular portions suit a fast better than one heavy meal.
Mango lassi in vrat with Alphonso pulp
Can you drink mango lassi in a fast? In most Hindu fasts, yes, because curd and fruit are generally allowed. It is cooling and filling. Check your family rules first, since some fasts avoid curd or mango.
- Use pure mango pulp with no added colour or preservative. Alphonso pulp is described as rich, creamy and non-fibrous. Our Alphonso mango pulp tins are available all year.
- Ripe Alphonso pulp is already sweet, so add mishri or honey only if needed.
- If you want a savoury touch, use sendha namak, not regular salt or cumin.
Blend 1 cup fresh curd, 3 to 4 tablespoons of pulp and half a cup of cold water or milk. Add a pinch of cardamom and top with chopped almonds. You can also stir pulp into a badam shake for a mango-badam shake.
Sources: USDA FoodData Central for almond calories; Bhagavad Gita 17.8 for the Sattvic food reference.
People also ask
Vrat me badam kha sakte hai?
Yes. Almonds are plain, unprocessed Sattvic food and are widely eaten in Navratri, Ekadashi, Shivratri and other fasts. They do not break a vrat. Avoid salted or flavoured almonds unless they use sendha namak, and follow your own family or community rules if they are stricter.
Can we eat almonds during Navratri fast?
Yes. Many people eat plain almonds during Navratri, soaked or dry. They give people who avoid grain some protein, fat and fibre. Keep portions small, a modest handful of soaked almonds, and choose plain ones rather than salted or masala almonds.
Do almonds break a fast in intermittent fasting?
Yes, in a strict fast. About 23 almonds carry roughly 160 to 165 calories, which ends a zero-calorie fast. Almonds are a good choice in your eating window instead. Some people allow a few calories during the fast, but that is a personal rule rather than a standard one.
Can I drink badam shake during vrat?
Yes, in most Hindu fasts. Make it with milk, soaked peeled almonds and a natural sweetener such as mishri, honey or dates. Leave out ready-made mixes, flavoured powders and colours, which may contain ingredients that are not allowed in a vrat. Check any stricter family rules.
Related searches
- Soaked almonds benefits
- How many almonds to eat daily
- Buy Mamra Badam online
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- Dry fruit names in English and Hindi
- Alphonso mango pulp for lassi
- Dates for fasting
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Almond, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.