Fun Activities to do with dad this Father’s Day!

Yeh hai Aam Zindagi

You: "Happy Father's Day, Dad!"

Dad: “You have truly made my day with your wonderful Father's Day wishes. Thank you so much for making me feel so special.”

Yeh hai South Asian dads wali Zindagi

You: "Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Dad: "Haa, theek hai..."

It's adorable how they try to act all tough when all they want to do at this moment is hug us tight. Asian father-child relationships may not always have been the affectionate type, but they surely are THE heroes for us. Its always "baba", "pappa", "abbu", "dad" over "iron man", "batman", or "shaktiman." We agree that they deserve to be celebrated every day, but today, let's celebrate them a little more? And let them know that even though we might have grown up a few inches in height, we're still their small kiddos. :D

Cook a wholesome dessert this Father's Day and every day :)

Celebratory occasions always call for something "meetha!" And what could be better than a healthy Ayurvedic dessert?

Also Read: Ayurvedic Lifestyle guide for Physical and Mental Health

For the mango-loving dads: Mango, Cashew, and Ginger energy balls!

Pro tip: These can also be a workout snack, how delish!

Caution: You can expect a fruity burst of flavors with crunchiness and a hint of flavorsome ginger :0

Grocery checklist:

• 100 g dried mango
• 100 g unsalted cashew nuts
• 25 g oats
• 8 -10 pitted dates
• 1/2 Tbsp of freshly grated ginger
• 3 Tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of Himalayan salt
• desiccated coconut

Time to be an awesome chef:

Wear Aprons, and maybe even a chef's cap if you're a crafty DIY-er ;) Now that the father-child duo is ready, let's begin!

For the Coconut loving dads: Coconut Bark with Rosewater, Pistachios, and Raspberries

This recipe is known to complement the Vata and Pitta doshas of our bodies. In case you aren't familiar with your dosha type, take this Tridosha test and find out! Coming back to the recipe, the name itself makes you want to crave it more! While you start making this, the most important part is to have fun :) Relive your childhood with your dad, and even record this session if you wish to. Memories are always the greatest treasure!

Grocery checklist:

• 55 g (2 oz) coconut butter
• 400 ml (14 fl oz) tin additive-free coconut cream
• 2 tablespoons rosewater, optional (below or purchased)
• pinch of Celtic sea salt
• 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
• handful of raspberries
• a handful of pistachio kernels, roughly chopped

Time to be an awesome chef pt.2

1. Line a baking tray or sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the coconut butter in a basin set over (but not touching) boiling water.
3. Stir in the coconut cream, rosewater (if using), salt, and vanilla extract.
4. Spread the raspberries and pistachios over after pouring the mixture on the prepared tray.
5. Freeze for at least 30 minutes, or until completely solid.
6. Remove from the freezer and cut into shards or squares.
7. Keep frozen in an airtight container.

For our beloved Chai-Loving dads: Vanilla Chai Cheesecake

This amazing recipe has all our hearts. Ayurvedic chai spice mix when infused with the richness of light creamy cheesecake, the serotonin boost is rewarding! So let's start baking the perfect cake for the most amazing men in our lives <3

Grocery checklist:

CHAI SPICE MIXTURE

• 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp of ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp each of ground cloves, cardamom, and ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg - I used fresh
• Pinch of ground black pepper

CRUST

• 1 and 1/2 cup (12 oz) of Graham Crackers crumbs
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) each of crushed almonds, and walnuts
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) each of brown sugar and white sugar
• 6 tbs of melted butter
• 1/2 tsp of the chai spice mixture

CHEESECAKE FILLING

• 32 oz (4 packages of 8 oz) of 1/3 less fat cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 cup (8 oz) of low-fat sour cream
• 1 and 1/4 cup (10 oz) of white granulated Truvia or sugar
• 4 eggs and 1 egg yolk at room temperature (additional egg yolk optional)
• 3 tbs of flour or cornstarch
• 1 tbs of pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbs of the chai spice mixture
• Butter or Non-Stick Baking Spray to coat or spray the Springform pan - I used a 9-inch pan

Yes, this recipe might seem lengthy, but every bit of it will be worth the huge smile on our parent's faces :D

Time to be an awesome chef pt.3

We wanted to do this right, and hence, here is a detailed list of procedures and instructions to be followed for this amazing recipe. Check out a complete guide to vanilla chai cheesecake here

Watch your go-to comfort movie

If you're not much of a cook, you could always pop some popcorn! A tub of popcorn, soft drinks, a couch, and Netflix is all you need for a perfect movie night with dad. And that's all it would take to make him feel super special :)

Vibe to music: Father's Day special session

Agree or not, the old classics we found boring in our childhood are the ones we now wholesomely vibe to. The finesse of classical music enhances our sense of appreciation for complex art. Playing them on the radio during a rainy evening while discussing the hidden meanings of their lyrics is a perfect way to spend the day. If you do not have a playlist ready for this, we would love for you to experience the vividness of our Amrutam Raga Project. From time immemorial, the healing power and valor of music have been recognized by Indian culture. It is said that when the musical prodigy Tansen sang raga Megh Malhar, the sunlight would diminish and clouds would ensue, causing pouring rain. And when he sang raga Deepak, candles and lamps would light up magically. With Amrutam Raga Project, Team Amrutam aims to support and promote the local talent and bring into the spotlight the cultural richness of Gwalior as a musical town. We hope you will enjoy watching the beautiful journey of these artists and find a way to appreciate their art in whatever way is possible. Here's our favorite Amrutam Raga playlist!

A trip down memory lane

Have a long chat. Yes, something as simple as that could also brighten up his day. Growing up, work inevitably takes priority over family. We wait for that perfect day to start living, the day when we'll have everything sorted. But "perfect" is an illusion. Life is passing by us every second. Let's not wait for that perfect evening to chat. Let's do that today? Make a cup of chai or sharbat, take out the photo albums, sit down, and talk to them. For this wholesome session, we'd love to share our favorite sharbat recipes with you. 🥺 And lastly, thank them for EVERYTHING!

Amrutam's Ayurvedic Gift Basket

#AmrutamFavorites

Amrutam’s Ayurvedic Sharbats Basket contains a combination of three 100% natural flavored sharbat. Our favorite Amla (Indian Gooseberry) infused Sharbat is a natural coolant, tonic, and appetizer. Amrutam's Anar (pomegranate) infused Sharbat is an Ayurvedic refreshment on the go, loaded with antioxidants, vitamin K and C, copper, zinc, potassium, and iron. Our Kacha Aam (Raw Mango) infused Sharbat is a natural and appetizing coolant, a good source of antioxidants, Vitamin B1 and B2, Niacin, and Vitamin C. All these natural ayurvedic sharbat boost immunity, aid digestion, and memory.

Also Read: Sharbats: History and Modern Interpretations

The ultimate surprise of Father's Day

This activity is not to be done "with" your dad, but it's "for" your dad. Remember how our parents kept jars of Chyawanprash stocked up for us? Well, it's time to #ReverseTheRoles. This Father's Day let's gift our parents the richness of Vedic Science. Amrutam's Chyawanprash is a delightful Ayurvedic recipe infused with extraordinary herbs and made with love in the heart of India, Gwalior.

Also Read: The Best Ayurvedic Products To Boost Immunity

 

"I grew up eating Dabur Chawanprash that my father used to buy every month to keep seasonal flu at bay. But then I grew up and these habits also took a backseat until I received this Chawanprash on the occasion of Amrutam completing its 5 years online. And then what? I haven’t gone back to my old habit of skipping it. It tastes DELICIOUS! I consume a spoonful of it every day on an empty stomach followed by some lukewarm water. It has significantly improved the quality of my life and I feel more energetic than I used to. For someone who eats ice cream in winter, my immunity has been fantastic! :p All thanks to this amazing recipe"

Rakshika Aphale, Amrutam Community Member

With this, we sign off for the day! :D We're hoping that this blog will be one of the reasons you smile this Father's Day. Thank you for being a part of the Amrutam family. <3

References:

12 Ayurvedic Recipes to try at home