Healthy Recipes

December 14, 2018 By Trupti Vyas (Pandya) 1 Comment

Winter Recipes

Winter has set in and it is that time of the year when our body experiences tremendous changes in energy levels, metabolism and our food preference also changes. Winter is also the season which is full of colorful veggies and fruits in market. Our body needs extra vitamins and minerals to help combat cold weather, illness and to maintain your good health.

Let me share with you some nutritious food ideas that will help boost immunity and maintain energy levels through the day.

Here are 5 healthy dishes which will help you to keep warm on cold days-

Millet Vegetable pan bread (Bajra Dudhi Thepla)-

Ingredients–

(Bajra) Millet flour – 1 cup
Wheat flour – 1 cup
Bottle gourd (Dudhi)- 1 cup (grated)
Curd – 1/3 cup
Oil – ½ cup (to add in flour and roast theplas)
Green coriander – 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Green chilly – 1-2 (finely chopped)
Ginger paste – 1 tsp
Asafoetida – 1 pinch
Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
Red chilly powder – ¼ tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Sesame seeds – 1 tsp (optional)
Salt – ½ tsp (as per taste)

Preparation

Take out flour in any big utensil. Mix wheat flour in the same bowl. Also add bottle gourd, ginger, green chilly, green coriander, Asafoetida, cumin seeds, red chilly powder, turmeric powder, sesame seeds, salt, 1 tbsp oil and curd. Add 1-2 tbsp water or as per requirement and knead soft dough. Keep aside the dough for 10-15 minutes so that it gets set.

Grease your hand with some oil and knead the dough. Pre-heat the pan (tawa). Take little amount of dough (lemon size) and make a round ball. Take one ball, dust it with dry flour and place it on rolling plate and roll into 6-7 inch diameter bread (thepla).

Place the rolled bread (thepla) on pre-heated pan (tawa) and when color of the bread (thepla) turns darker from surface then flip the side. Spread 1 tsp oil on the upper surface. Flip the side and spread some oil on this side as well. Roast the bread (thepla) on medium flame until it gets brown spots on both sides. Take it of the pan and place it in a plate.

Serve the Millet Vegetable pan bread (BajraLaukiTheplas) with curd (yogurt), Corainder paste or pickle or with any vegetables of your choice.

Suggestion: Mix finely chopped spinach in the flour for making Millet Spinach Breads (Bajra spinach thepla) and add finely chopped fresh fenugreek leaves for making millet fenugreek breads (bajramethitheplas).

Winter special Fenugreek seeds and edible gum sweet balls

Fenugreek seeds gum balls is a traditional recipe which can also be used as an Ayurveda treatment for various ailments, especially during winters. These sweet gum balls are not only known for their medicinal properties but also taste delicious.

These are prepared with Fenugreek seeds mixed with wheat flour and Jaggery. New mothers can have these sweet balls as dietary supplement or to overcome any post-delivery problems. People suffering from joints pain, especially in winters, can have this sweet.

Ingredients-

Fenugreek(methi) seeds- 100gms.
Milk- ½ litre(2-1/2 cup)
Wheat flour-300gm(1-1/2cup)
Ghee- 250gm(1-1/2 cup)
Edible gum (Gond)-100gms- (1/2 cup)
Almonds-30-35.
Black Pepper- 8-10.
Cumin powder-2tsp.
Dry ginger- 2tsp
Green Cardamom- 10-12
Cinnamon-4 pieces.
Nutmeg-2
Jageery-1-1/2cup

Preparation:

Clean Fenugreek (Methi) seeds properly(wash seeds then put them in a thick cotton cloth and leave it in the sun to dry, cloth can be washed and used again). Put clean seeds in a mixer and make a thick paste somewhat similar to flour. Boil milk.

Put the grounded Fenugreek (Methi) in milk and let it soak for 8-10 hours.

Cut almonds into small pieces. Gently crush black pepper(break 1 pepper into 4-5 pieces), crush cinnamon and nutmeg into fine powder. Peel Cardamom (Elaichi) and crush it as well.Pour 1/2 cup clarified butter (Ghee) ina pan, fry soaked (Fenugreek) on a medium flame till it turns light brown and smells good. Remove the mixture in a plate.

Put the remainingclarified butter(Ghee) in the pan and heat, fry Edible gum(Gond) and take it out on a plate(fry Gond on a law flame). Fry flour in leftover Ghee in the pan till it becomes light brown then take it out.

Put 1 tspclarified butter in the pan followed by the pieces ofJaggery(Gur), melt Jageery (Gur) into liquid form (Chashni) on a low flame. Add Cumin (Jeera) powder, Dry Ginger(Sauntth) powder, cut almonds, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, Cardamom in the Liquid syrup of Jageeryand mix well.

Take little amounts of the mixture, shape it into small balls similar to a lemon and put it on a plate. Keep Fenugreek seeds and edible gum sweet balls (MethiLadoos) in open air for 4-5 hours.

The sweet is ready, keep them in an air tight container and eat one sweet ball every morning or evening with warm milk. This prevents pain in joints, back and pain due to the cold.

CARROT CAKE SNACKS BITE-

Ingredients-

21/4 cups shreddedcarrots
3/4cups date (about 10 large dates)
2/3cups coconut (shredded or flaked)
1/2cups walnuts
1/2cups sunflowerseeds
1 teaspooncinnamon
1/4teaspoons groundginger
1/8cups toasted sesame seeds
1/8cups shreddedcoconut.
1/8cups chopped almonds

Preparation

In a food processor, blend all the snack bite ingredients together.Scoop out full grinded mixture in a bowl and roll it into a ball.

Roll the balls in sesame seeds, coconut, or chopped almonds for additional crunch. Use the listed optional ingredients to determine the amount of sesame seeds, coconut, or almonds you need.

Store refrigerated or in an air tight container.

Spinach with Chickpeas Green salad-

Ingredient–

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ onion, diced
300g frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
400gtin chickpeas and green peas, drained and boiled.
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation: Take 400gm of chickpeas and green peas in a pressure cooker. Add half a litre water to it and cook till 4 whistle blow. Let it cool for some time. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Add and Cook the garlic and onion in the oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add and Stir in the spinach, chickpeas, green peas, cumin and salt. Use your stirring spoon to lightly mash the beans as the mixture cooks. Allow to cook until it getsthoroughly heated. Serve it hot.

Green Greek Smoothies-

Ingredients-

Cup freshly cut pieces of kiwi.
A bowl of Greek yogurt.
½ cup of milk.
Pinch of grounded cardamom.
1 tsp of (water) soaked chia seeds
Fresh Mint Leaves

In a blender,place kiwi, yogurt and milk and blend it for about 1 minute or until smooth.Pour into the glass, and sprinkle with cardamom. Garnish with mint leaves and add 1 tsp of soaked chia seed on it. Serve immediately.

Tip- You can also try other winter fruits and veggies– like oranges, apple, spinach, Beets instead of Kiwi.

Try these healthy and delicious winter warming recipes. And, don’t let the cold weather keep you from enjoying fresh homemade foods. Let’s Enjoy!

October 17, 2018 By Hira Junaid 13 Comments

5 Juices for Fat Loss

Juice cleansers are a rage these days. But, does it help in weight loss? My answer is yes!! It does.

One of the golden rules to follow is to get two servings of fruits and vegetables in our diet every day. Now, this seems to be hard for some people, especially those who are looking to lose weight because most juices/fruit contain sugar. However, one can get numerous micronutrients and lose weight quickly if they have the following juices that are super rich in nutritive content but, contain very less sugar.

5 Best Natural Juices that helps in Weight Loss

Below are some recipes I think can help you in your journey to lose weight. I firmly believe that greens are more useful than fruits but, I have included a wide variety of smoothies and juices to help you out.

1- Clean and green Detox Juice

Ingredients:

Apples, Kale, Celery, Cucumbers, Basil

Directions:

-Place all ingredients in a blender

-Add 1/4th cup of water. Mix thoroughly. Add water and/or ice in order to make the smoothie thicker or thinner based on your preference

-This smoothie is excellent for detox as it flushes out all toxins from your body and contains antioxidants from the basil to make this one of the effective vegetable juices for fat loss.

2- Beetroot, Carrot and Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

Beetroots, Carrots, Strawberries

Directions:

-Peel beetroots and chop the carrots. Add strawberries to the veggies and blend it in a blender. Add 1/4th cup of water. Add water and/or ice in order to make the smoothie thicker or thinner based on your preference.

-Beetroot juice will help you work out harder in the gym and this is one of the fruit juices for fat loss that contain a high amount of soluble and insoluble fiber that assists in weight loss.

3- Mint, Watermelon and Kale Juice

Ingredients:

Watermelon- 1.5-2 cups, Mint leaves- 1 fistful, Kale leaves- 3 leaves

Directions:

-Wash mint and kale leaves and put in blender. Chop the watermelon, remove the seeds and place in blender. Add 1/4th cup of water and mix well. Add water and/or ice in order to make the smoothie thicker or thinner based on your preference.

Watermelon by their nature are mainly water and sugar, thus making them a low calorie, weight loss assistant. This is a handy juice recipe for weight loss because of the mint leaves. Mint leaves are a natural appetite suppressant. So forget your hunger pangs after having one of these smoothies!

4- Green Spinach Lemonade

Ingredients:

Lemon1/4th cup, water1/2 cup, spinach1 whole, apple (secret ingredient!)

Directions:

-Cut up lemons and remove seeds. Add spinach, lemon and water to blender. Add 1 apple with skin. Mix thoroughly. Add more apple if you want to sweeten more. Add water and/or ice in order to make the smoothie thicker or thinner based on your preference

The key ingredient to this as you may have noticed is the apple. Not only is it a fantastic sweetner, but it is also a fantastic source of antioxidants and minerals. In my opinion this is the best juice recipe for fat loss because it contains the minerals and micronutrients from spinach and apples but also assists in weight loss due to the lemons.

5- Cucumber Kiwi Juice

Ingredients:

2 whole kiwis, 1 whole cucumber, 1/2 lemon, 1/4th cup of water

Directions:

-Chop and peel the kiwis and cucumber. Blend together. Add water and/or ice in order to make the smoothie thicker or thinner based on your preference

-This recipe is the best juice recipe to get rid of belly fat because it is high in water and low in sodium. Low sodium juices reduce the overall bloating of the body and because this juice is lower than 50 calories, it is a fantastic way to satiate your hunger and be in a caloric deficit. A must try option for effective weight loss.

September 10, 2018 By Shamika Desai 3 Comments

9 Raw Food Diet That Are Tasty And Healthy

I always wondered what is raw food detox diet and how does one eat raw vegetables. Then I found that raw food detox diet is the dietary practice of eating only uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods. It can include raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts, organic milk, organic milk yogurt.

In India, most may not be comfortable with a long-term raw diet. However, including raw food in your diet as often as you can surely help. It will help in detoxifying our system.

What is detoxification? Spring cleaning means detoxifying your body, It’s a way to recharge, rejuvenate, and renew. It’s a way you can jump-start your body for a more active life, a healthier life.” There’s no vacuum or mop needed for this little “housekeeping” ritual.

In our body, there is an ongoing detoxification to remove the toxins formed by the food we eat and also through the environment we are exposed to. Our body system is naturally designed to transform the toxins and excrete them out of the body. In order for this to happen naturally, our body should get a break from the regular exposure to processed foods, heavy diets, and environmental pollution.

The raw food is low in calories but contain good amounts of nutrients like vitamins and minerals, antioxidants. It also has high fiber content which eliminates the toxins by managing the bowel movement. The unhealthy diet has been the leading cause of headaches, fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling bloated, indigestion, bad breath etc.

Including a raw diet will surely make you feel more fresh and energetic.

Remember to drink plenty of water when you are on a raw diet. It is the best detox food that you can have. Raw diet helps maintain your weight as well, it also saves your cooking time.

What can one include in Raw Detox diet?

Sprouts Salad

Sprouts have increased nutritious value and easily digestible. Sprouts increase the vitamin and mineral content of the grain and decrease the carbohydrate and calorie content. Basically, any whole legume or grains can be sprouted. Some sprouts have a change in flavor after sprouting.

Avocado Salad.

Avocado is a complete food with lots of nutrients. It is a very versatile fruit as it takes on both sweet and savory taste perfectly. It’s got a buttery texture and hence can be used as a healthy substitute for butter with bread. This salad is very refreshing as an evening snack or as a side with roti. For those people under diet, this makes for a wonderful meal by itself.

Beetroot Pomegranate Juice.

Pomegranates and beetroots, both contain a plentiful amount of antioxidants and nutrients and they are also rich in vitamin C. This colorful root vegetable contains powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects, and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. Beetroot is well known for its blood purifying properties. Due to the rich iron content, it is said to be an indispensable cure for anemia.

Tricolour Fruit Salad (Orange/ Papaya + Kiwi/ Dragon Fruit/ Berries/Tomato’s + Cucumber/ Lichi/ Honey due)

These fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and loaded with vitamins, minerals and water. It will help you to feel fresh and prevent deficient of the same.

Cranberry Curds Salad

The possible health benefits of consuming cranberries include lowered risk of urinary tract infections, prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.

Tender Coconut smoothie

Tender coconut water a natural, nutrient-rich isotonic drink. It is high in electrolytes, chlorides, potassium, and magnesium and has a moderate amount of sugar, sodium and protein. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber, manganese, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin C.

Cucumber Juice

Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B5, and vitamin B7 (biotin). B vitamins are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and buffer some of the damaging effects of stress. Cucumbers are rich in two of the most basic elements needed for healthy digestion: water and fiber

Fresh Tomato salads

As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant called Lycopene, vitamin C, and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.

Fresh Fig salads

Figs are high in natural sugars, minerals, and soluble fiber. Figs are rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper and are a good source of antioxidant vitamins A, E and K that contribute to health and wellness.

So, if you have never tried raw food detox diet, now is the time you can start and I am sure you will never regret.

August 21, 2018 By Trupti Hingad Leave a Comment

Tired of traditional Green Tea? Try This!

Green Tea which is native to India and China has been hailed and consumed for its health benefits globally. If you don’t know, this blog might help you to understand the super benefits of Green tea.

https://goqii.com/blog/?s=green+tea

Rather than the benefits of Green Tea, we focus on how to divert away from the traditional ways of consuming Green Tea. You might be tired of taking that warm cup of green tea every day. Don’t worry we have a solution to your problem.

Many of us enjoy coolers instead of hot beverages. Here’s how you can make green tea coolers which are tasty and low calorie. So enjoy the drink guilt-free.

ICED MINT GREEN TEA

ICED MINT TEA

Ingredients:

2 mint flavored Green tea bags

1 cup ice

Method

Brew 2 mint tea bags in 2 1/4 cup boiling water for 4-5min. remove tea bags, let it cool. To serve, pour tea into 2 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with mint leaves.

ICED FRUITY GREEN TEA

ICED FRUITY GREEN TEA

Ingredients:

Green tea bags-2

1/3 cup fruit juice without sugar (peach, plum, mango, strawberry or orange)

1 cup ice

Method: Put 2 green tea bags in 2/3 cup boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let it cool. Stir 1/3 cup of unsweetened fruit juice. To serve, pour tea juice blend into 2 ice-filled glasses. (You can add jaggery or honey for sweetness)

FRUITY BUBBLE TEA

FRUITY BUBBLE TEA

Same as the above ingredients.

Method: Use green or black tea bags, substitute milk with 1/3 cup fruit juice such as orange, mango or peach. No sugar to be added.

LEMON GINGER TEA COOLER

LEMON GINGER TEA COOLER

Method: Bring 1 cup of water to simmer in a saucepan. Add 1.5tbsp of chopped or peeled fresh ginger. Remove from the flame and let it steep for 20min. Strain the juice into a glass. Add 2tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1tsp sugar or sugar-free. Let it cool. Put 2 green or black tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water for a few minutes. Remove the tea bags and let it chill. To serve, pour the lemon ginger infusion into 2 ice-filled glasses. Top each glass with chilled green tea and garnish with lemon slices.

Serve these healthy coolers to your guests or enjoy in kitty parties, or any occasion. They are a good way to quench your thirst after a hot day under the sun.

Give it a try and tell us if you like it in the comment section.