How many payasams should you really have with Onasadya? A guide to mindful eating

No Onam feast is complete without payasam: the quintessential sweet that Malayalis cherish during this festival. Beyond its taste, payasam carries memories, togetherness, and the warmth of celebration. Every festival is an opportunity to gather, savor, and make those moments linger long after the feast ends.

But do we really need three or four varieties of payasam at a time? Must we wait to finish the Onam feast only after sampling all of them? If your answer is “no,” you’ve already crossed the first barrier toward mindful indulgence.

The true joy of payasam lies not in quantity but in quality and balance. Whether it’s rice payasam, lentil or green gram payasam, wheat, oats, plantain payasam, or the traditional Kerala pradhaman, choosing wholesome ingredients makes all the difference. For instance, using jaggery instead of refined sugar offers a healthier sweetness without compromising on flavor.

Moderation is key. One well-prepared payasam, enjoyed mindfully, can make your celebration just as special—without overloading your system. For those mindful of digestion, consider enjoying payasam an hour after the feast, allowing your body to absorb the goodness while keeping the sweetness in your celebration.

This Onam, focus on savoring one perfect payasam rather than piling on variety. After all, it’s the quality of sweetness—s, and the memories it brings, that truly matters.