Homemade Idli - South Indian Rice Cake - Idli (1 idli)

Reduce the idli portion and avoid eating it alone; start with a non-starchy vegetable salad or cooked vegetables such as spinach, okra, cabbage, or cauliflower.

Make idlis with a higher proportion of urad dal and replace part of the rice with quinoa or steel-cut oats; include grated vegetables such as carrot, spinach, or zucchini in the batter.

Pair idlis with a generous serving of vegetable sambar made with lentils and non-starchy vegetables, rather than relying mainly on potato-containing sides.

Choose coconut chutney or a peanut chutney without added sugar, and limit sweet chutneys, jaggery, and sweetened beverages with the meal.

Eat slowly and include a protein-rich side such as plain unsweetened Greek yogurt, paneer, tofu, or eggs if appropriate for your diet.

Take a 10–20 minute easy walk after eating and avoid sitting continuously after the meal.