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Healthy Eating: Vegetable Quinoa Pulao

vegetable quinoa pulao

Quinoa is a gluten-free superfood that has been gaining a lot of popularity in the past few years, and it is actually pronounced as Kveen Vaa. Quinoa, though popular as a grain, is actually a seed. It has a nutty flavour and lacks the sweetness & stickiness of rice. It is easier to cook than rice and you will love the taste. Although it is not as economical as rice, it is definitely worth a try! So let’s learn how to prepare super healthy and simple Vegetable Quinoa Pulao!

What You Will Need:

  • Quinoa (wash and soak for 30 min) – 1 cup
  • Onion (chopped) – ¼ cup
  • Cauliflower (chopped) – ¼ cup
  • French Beans (chopped) – ¼ cup
  • Carrots (chopped) – ¼ cup
  • Corn Kernels – ¼ cup
  • Green Peas – ¼ cup
  • Spinach – 2 tbsp
  • Coriander – 2 tbsp
  • Ginger Garlic Paste – 2 tbsp
  • Bay Leaf – 1
  • Cinnamon Stick – ½
  • Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
  • Turmeric, red chili powder, coriander seeds powder, garam masala as per taste
  • Salt as per taste
  • Oil – 1 tbsp

How to Prepare:

  1. In a pan, heat oil and fry the bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Then, allow the cumin seeds to sizzle.
  2. Add the chopped onion along with ginger garlic paste and roast it well until slightly brown.
  3. Now, add all the other vegetables along with turmeric, red chili powder, coriander seeds powder, garam masala and salt. Sauté them well for 4-5 min.
  4. It is time to add the soaked quinoa (discard the water), give it a quick stir and cook it for 2-3 minutes. Now add 1.5 to 2 cups of water.
  5. After a boil, cover the pan with a lid and cook for 5-10 min until done. Mix the contents using a fork and not spatula to give it a Pulao consistency.
  6. Serve it hot with curd or raita.

Highlights of the Vegetable Quinoa Pulao

  • This absolutely easy recipe gives you everything required for a balanced meal.
  • It is high in protein and contains sufficient amount of all essential amino acids.
  • 100% satiety with the fiber content it has in limited portion size.
  • Fun Fact: A cup of Quinoa will provide twice the protein and about 5gm more fiber than the same amount of white rice.

Hope you try this awesome Vegetable Quinoa Pulao recipe and share your experience in the comments below! Click here for more healthy recipes, or get them directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

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Egg – An Antidote For The Immune System

egg

If you’ve been looking to up your protein intake and boost your immunity then look no further than the egg! It’s a staple for most of us at home and makes for the perfect breakfast meal but there is so much more to the versatile egg than just that! 

Health Benefits of An Egg 

    1. Proteins: Eggs are a complete source of protein as they have all the 9 essential amino acids which our body cannot produce on its own but has to obtain from a diet. Proteins are the building blocks of our body and a single egg provides 7g of it.
    2. Superfood: These easy to cook eggs are loaded with selenium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and vitamins like B 12, D and E and K. Thus, making them the powerhouse of nutrition. Zinc and selenium helps fight infection and improve immunity.
    3. Healthy Heart: While consuming an egg, eat the whole egg that is the white part and the yolk too. Egg yolks have been in controversy for a long time. But contrary to the popular belief, the egg yolk can be consumed daily. It is rich in nutrients and cholesterol and this cholesterol has less effect on blood cholesterol. It is the junk food or the saturated fats which raises blood cholesterol. Although, consult your doctor or nutritionist before consuming eggs especially if you’re suffering from high cholesterol.
    4. Energy Booster: Riboflavin, a Vitamin found in eggs, helps the body convert the food we eat into energy. Include this in your daily diet and say goodbye to lethargy. This inexpensive food, found all around the year, can be the constant source of energy.
    5. Sharper Brains: Eggs are rightly called the brain food because of the essential nutrient choline. Choline is said to keep neurological disorders away. Pregnant women are advised to have eggs to prevent any neural tube defects. Omega 3  fatty acids present in eggs protect against Alzheimer and improve cognitive function.
    6. Stronger Bones: One of the natural sources of Vitamin D is egg. Vitamin D ensures strong bones and teeth. It prevents osteoporosis and rickets. Vitamin D helps in absorption of Vitamin C which promotes a healthy heart and a healthy gut. Vitamin D plays a vital role in cell formation, immune system and reducing inflammation.
    7. Boon for Weight Watchers: The high protein content of the egg helps the body stay full for a longer period of time. It provides satiety and prevents binge eating.

With the myriad of benefits offered by the humble egg, we should try including it in our daily diet. It never gets boring because you can boil it, poach it, fry it, scramble it or eat it as a sandwich or any other accompaniment you like. How do you like eating your eggs? Let us know in the comments below! 

For more informative topics, check out Healthy Reads or speak to an expert by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

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Healthy Snacks You Can Eat At Work

healthy eating at work

Does work keep you so engrossed that you forget to eat your meals on time? Have tight deadlines derailed your eating habits? Health and diet are our last priority while climbing the professional ladder. Is there a way to eat healthy at work? Do smaller meals work? Is it advisable to carry healthy snacks?

While it is a highly debatable topic whether one should eat smaller meals or 3 square meals a day, both have their share of pros and cons. I would advise you to choose the best of both worlds by opting for healthy snacks whenever possible.

Here is a List of a Few Healthy Snacks You Can Eat At Work:

  1. Nuts and Dry Fruits: You can carry a trail mix of Almonds, Walnuts, Cashew Nuts, Pistachios, Figs, Dried Apricot, Dates, Raisins, etc. Fox Nuts [makhana] is considered as a superfood that is loaded with fiber. You can also add some Roasted Grams and a handful of Peanuts to it. Try these protein packed flavored Makhana from the GOQii Health Store.
  2. Energy Bars: Protein Bars, Granola Bars, and Health Bars all provide a good amount of nutrition. The convenience of carrying and eating one during office hours is unparalleled. These bars are a great way to pump up your protein levels as well. Try these Choco Almond Protein Bars from the GOQii Health Store.
  3. Sprouts: help in reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. They prevent anaemia and aid digestion, making it a great choice for healthy snacking! Don’t just stick to Mung Sprouts, you can also add variations like Chickpeas, Black Gram, Red Kidney Beans, Soya Beans, etc. The chances of foodborne illnesses greatly diminish with homemade sprouts.
  4. Fruits: are often ignored and are not included in one’s daily diet. Having them as mid meals can do wonders for your health. Grab locally grown or seasonal fruits and welcome all those healthy vitamins and minerals into your body!
  5. Sweet Potato: Another healthy and delicious snack is eating boiled or roasted Sweet Potatoes. Being high in dietary fiber, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it should be consumed more frequently. A dash of Date and Jaggery Chutney will make it super healthy and yummier!
  6. Sweet Corn: Have them boiled, steamed or roasted. Sweet Corn provides flavonoid and carotene which help fight free radicals. Besides this, it is rich in vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin E.
  7. Smoothies: are an excellent way to incorporate fruits and nuts in one go. Whip up 2-3 fruits along with nuts and seeds. You can add some milk or coconut water to make it in a smooth consistency. Try making an Apple, Banana, Grape and Date Smoothie. It is absolutely delicious!
  8. Diet Snacks: The market is flooded with healthy diet food like Diet Puffed Rice, Diet Khakharas, high protein biscuits, etc. But choose wisely because Diet Puffed Rice with liberal amounts of Sev won’t serve the purpose.

While mid-meal snacks are important, you need to take care of the portions you eat. Although carrying nutritious mid-meal snacks require time and effort, having it ready with you helps avoid the other unhealthy alternatives and the guilt that accompanies them.

We hope this article helps you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on healthy eating and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Have Daily?

How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Have DailyGreen tea has become a household name today and is highly appreciated by all. People have started including a cup of steaming hot cup to their daily routine to keep themselves healthy. Having a cup of this beverage instead of your regular mug of coffee or tea will also reduce the amount of sugar that you have throughout the day.

However, there are several misconceptions that it will help us lose weight with one mug daily. While, it’s true that it can help you shed weight, it is not a magical drink that will shed off the fats and extra weight without being physically active and eating healthy. There have been cases where people consume extra cups and wonder why they aren’t losing weight.

How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Consume? 

There was one such friend who was worried that despite having green tea she was not shedding weight. I asked her about her meal pattern and her activities through the day. After listening to her, I realized that her meals were haywire and activity levels were low. Her purpose behind having green tea was only for weight loss! Yes, Green tea helps you lose your weight but, at the same time we need to make sure that we are active and keeping our meals healthy.

Green tea is filled with Polyphenols, like flavonoids and catechin, which act as powerful antioxidants in our body. Green tea has the power to fight with fat-fighting metabolism and helps in shedding extra fat from the body

While it is a super healthy drink, we need to make sure that we control the amount we consume. 2 to 3 medium cups of green tea in a day is good enough but try not to exceed it!

It also contains minimum amount of tannins and caffeine that can interfere with the iron absorption and decrease folic acid absorption – which is an important vitamin that helps decreases birth defects. So women who consume it should be careful about their intake.

Remember there are no shortcuts. Superfoods cannot guarantee a great body and a healthy life. The best way forward is to eat healthy, drink lots of water, rest well and keep yourself active!

We hope this article helps you! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]