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Hungry Kya! Here are 5 nutritious snacks recipes

paneer-wrapAlong with being a lifestyle coach and nutritionist, I play one more dual role that of a homemaker and a mother. The big question that always arises is what snacks can we make which are healthy and quick to make at the same time, right?

Here are few recipes from my recipe book which are not only healthy but fast.

1. OATS PATTIES

oats-patties

Ingredients Amount
Oats 1 cup
Capsicum 1 small
Carrot ½ no
Tomatoes 1 no
Spring Onions ½ cup
Gingerchilli paste 1 Tbsp
Lime ½ no.
Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
Red chilly powder ¼ tsp
Salt To taste
Oil 1 tsp

METHOD:

  1. Sprinkle water on oats. Continue this till it absorbs the water and becomes a bit sticky.
  2. To this add chopped capsicum, carrot, tomatoes, fresh onion with leaves, ginger chilli paste, lime, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well.
  3. Divide the mixture into two equal halves. Make a flat (pattice) pieces of it and cook in a nonstick pan on both sides.
  4. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Nutritional Benefits: Oats is rich in fiber and the veggies are a source of vitamins and minerals, lime juice makes the food alkaline. Overall it is a great dish to start your day with which will surely improve your immunity and overall health

2. Steamed Spinach breads (PALAK DHOKLA)

palak dhokla

Ingredients Amount
Rawa 1-2 TBSP
Gramflour 1-2 TBSP
Spincach (palak) (finely chopped) 1 bunch
greenchilli paste ½ Tbsp
Salt To taste
Oil 1 tsp

 

METHOD:

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a vessel.
  2. To this mixture add 1 tsp of warm oil.
  3. Add luke warm water to make the batter of some flowing consistency.
  4. Pour this mixture into a greased tin and steam the mixture for around 30 minutes.
  5. Garnish with Spinach leaves. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

 

Nutritional Benefits: This can serve as a super evening snack as it contains goodness of fiber, calcium, B vitamins of the spinach and is also a cereal pulse combination which improves the protein quality. Wholesome meal which is low in calories and has high satiety value.

3. FENUGREEK PANCAKES (METHI PUDLA)

methi pudla

Ingredients Amount
fenugreek leaves (chopped) ½ bunch
Wheat flour 1 TBSP
Bajra flour 2 TBSP
Onion 1 no.
Gingerchilli paste 1 Tbsp
Garlic paste ½ tsp
Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
Salt To taste
Oil 1 tsp

 

METHOD:

1.Mix all the ingredients except oil in a vessel.

2.Add water to make the batter of pouring consistency

3.Make two pancakes on a nonstick pan

4.Serve hot with tomato ketchup/ Mint sauce (Pudina chutney)

Nutritional Benefits: It is not only rich in B vitamins (fenugreek leaves) and helps in improving hemoglobin but due to the addition of onion, ginger, garlic it is highly anti-inflammatory and good for gut health. Researches prove that consumption of ginger, garlic and onion helps fight GI infections too.

4.Bottle Gourd and Semolina Pancakes (DOODHI-RAWA PANCAKE)

doodhi-rawa-pancake

Ingredients Amount
Semolina 3 TBSP
Bottle gourd 100 gms
Curds (skim milk) 3 TBSP
Gingerchilli paste 1 Tbsp
Carrot For garnish
Salt To taste
Oil 1 tsp

 

METHOD:

  1. Grate the bottle gourd.
  2. Add semolina, ginger chilli paste, curds, salt and make a batter of pouring consistency by adding water.
  3. Make 3 small pancakes on a nonstick pan by adding oil.

4.Garnish with grated carrot and coriander.

5.Serve hot with green chutney

Nutritional Benefits: Bottle gourd has multi benefits like it is high in fiber, helps curb the acidity too, good for heart, and the list goes on. Curds are rich in probiotics which improves the gut bacteria.

 

5. COTTAGE CHEESE VEGETABLE WRAP ( PANEER VEG WRAP)

paneer-veg-wrap

Ingredients Amount
Gramflour 2 TBSP
Capsicum ½ no
Carrot ¼ no
Tomatoes 1 small
Spring onions ½ cup
Paneer (COTTAGE CHEESE) 200 ml(20 gms)
Coriander leaves Few sprigs
Lime ½ no.
Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder ½ tsp
Pavbhaji masala/ Garam masala ½ tsp
Salt To taste
Oil 1 tsp

 

METHOD:

  1. For the Wrap:

To the gram flour add chopped coriander leaves, red chilli powder, salt and make a batter by adding water

Pour this batter on a nonstick and make a chilla

  1. For the filling:

In a nonstick pan, take 1 tsp of oil. Add chopped capsicum, carrot, spring onions, tomatoes, paneer cubes and cook for a minute. To this add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, lime juice, pav bhaji masala or any garam masala (blend of ground spices like peppercorns, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, bay leaf, caraway). You can even use herbs instead of this . Mix well. Cover the pan for 1-2 minutes. Cook until done.

  1. Place this filling into the centre of the chilla and wrap it. Cut it into pieces. Garnish with spring onion leaves and tomatoes.
  2. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Nutritional Benefits: It is high in protein with cottage cheese and gram flour. It contains goodness of fiber, Vit C, vitamins and minerals and other phytochemicals too. Children love this most as it looks like a frankie/roll but the base is super healthy here. Also helps in improving immunity, hemoglobin, better growth.

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Signs you need to know to support your metabolism

fast-metabolism

When we hear the term “fast metabolism,” it’s usually regarding people — often younger than us —who seem to be able to eat whatever they want and as much of it as they can: They can indulge in sweets, fried food, simple carbs and more without gaining an ounce of fat.

But just because they don’t appear to gain weight, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re optimally healthy.

They may experience the same low energy, mood swings, brain fog, digestive upset and other effects of unhealthy dietary habits which over time can worsen.

You see, true metabolic health isn’t just about having your cake and eating it too, so to speak.
The state of your metabolism has much more to do with your overall health than simply your weight. Metabolism lies at the foundation of health. It’s a complex system that directly influences how our cells, tissues and body systems function and get the nutrients they need — while getting rid of what they don’t.

Metabolic processes are involved in our most critical areas of health, including cardiovascular, cognitive, inflammation and immunity. Essentially, good metabolism doesn’t mean you don’t gain weight, it means you feel good every day, have plenty of energy for daily activities and are in good overall health. Poor metabolism often means the opposite.

Just as metabolic health can be influenced by a variety of factors, a number of signs and symptoms can indicate that your metabolism needs support. If left unchecked, these early signs may eventually manifest into metabolic syndrome and its dangerous offspring, Type 2 Diabetes. If you experience a number of these signs regularly, it’s time to take action.

Wide Waist: What’s your waist size? Extra fat around the abdomen is the unhealthiest type of fat and one of the most common signs that you may need to support your metabolism. If you are a man with a waistline of 40 inches or greater, or a woman with a waistline of 35 inches or greater, your metabolic health may need to be examined.

Fatigue: Do you generally feel run down, like you’re “running on fumes?” Do you become exhausted after eating? Feeling sleepy once in a while after a restless night can be expected. But, if you are frequently tired with low energy throughout the day — even after a good night’s sleep — your metabolism may be to blame.

Excessive Sweating: Do you sweat for no apparent reason? Perspiring when it’s hot or you’re doing hard physical exertion is normal and healthy. But if simple, daily tasks like doing the dishes or walking up a flight of stairs make you drip, you may need to address your metabolic health.

Poor Circulation: Do you feel cold all time? Are your fingers and toes always chilled or do your hands and feet fall asleep easily? When you hurt yourself, does it take a long time to heal? Low circulation may be a sign that your metabolism could use some help.

Unhealthy Gums And Teeth: Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? Are they painful? Do you have a propensity for cavities?
More and more research points to a relationship between gum disease and chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and metabolic issues such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
How regularly do you see the dentist? If your oral health is suffering, your metabolic health may be deteriorating according to research demonstrating links between metabolic dysfunction and periodontitis.

Maintain Metabolic Health: So you’ve determined that your metabolism isn’t what you want it to be. Now what? The good news is that a large part of your metabolic health can be improved using targeted diet, exercise and lifestyle adjustments.

Handle Stress: High stress is a culprit in metabolic mayhem. It fuels inflammation and metabolic-disrupting stress hormones like cortisol. Try adding 15 minutes of meditation to your daily routine. In addition, when you feel your stress levels are getting out of hand, take 20 seconds to stop whatever you’re doing and simply breathe. Take three deep breaths and exhale fully, pulling your bellybutton toward your spine to completely empty your diaphragm. A mere 20 seconds is so quick that nobody will even notice that you “checked out” for that time.
But it may be enough to bring you (and your metabolism) some peace.

Exercise: Any kind of cardio (aerobic exercise) helps to both rev up your metabolism and reduce your stress. Studies show that 1½ hours per week of moderate physical activity, like brisk walking, keeps the average person healthy (more is needed if you want to lose weight). What’s more, studies show that 10 minutes work out too work just as well as 45-minute workouts, as long as your total exercise time adds up to 90 minutes or more over the course of the week.

This is a relief for any busy person; it’s much easier to fit a 15-minute walk into your daily lunch break than it is to get up an hour early to go to the gym. Although light cardio is important, don’t forget to include some muscle-building exercises. Muscle is more active than fat, so more muscle means more efficient metabolism. Explore different ways to fit muscle training into your day. Do squats while you’re waiting for dinner to cook. Do some push-ups or sit-ups while waiting for your shower to get hot. Install an over-the-door pull-up bar and do one or two pull-ups every time you walk by. Be creative!
Healthy Diet:

Easy metabolic tip:

(i) Eat more green vegetables, fiber and protein. Eat less sugar and simple carbs.

This alone should be enough to put you well on your way to metabolic health, but it’s not hard to take your food consciousness to an even higher level for greater vitality and health.

(ii) Learn the difference between good fats and bad fats. For example: deep-fry oil, trans-fat and anything hydrogenated are all bad. Omegas, coconut, avocados, olive oil, seeds and nuts: These are good.

(iii)  Incorporate vegetables of some form into every meal: Yes, even eat these at breakfast! Try blending some spinach or kale into a fruit and yogurt smoothie and I bet you won’t even taste the greens. Vegetables should make up at least half of each meal.

Supplements

Natural supplements like curcumin, caratirm, and special teas like Green and herbal infusions can stroke the metabolism and help in the whole process of wellness.

Your metabolism defines your health from a cellular level. Take care of it. It’s never about weight loss, it’s about your metabolism and how strong it is.

 

 

 

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5 HEALTHY TASTY SALADS

We always think salads to be dry and boring. How would you like it, if you get some super tasty salads combined with goodness of health?

Do go through these recipes and trust me post this, you will not like to miss salads in your meals

  1. TOFU/ PANEER STIR FRY SALAD

Paneer Salad

 

Ingredients Amount
Tofu/ Paneer ½ cup
Onion 1 no
Tomato 1 no
Bell pepper(any or all color) 1 no
Brocolli 4-5 florets
Baby corn 5-6 no
Salt To taste
Pepper powder To taste
Oil 1 TBSP
Oregano (optional) To taste
Chilli flakes (optional) To taste

METHOD:

  1. Dice the onion, tomatoes, bell peppers and tofu/ Paneer in same size.
  2. Heat 1 TBSP of oil in a pan. Once the oil heats up, saute the veggies and Paneer/Tofu on a high flame for a couple of minutes and add salt and pepper powder as per taste.
  3. Serve hot.

 

  1. SWEET POTATO SALAD

Sweet Potato Salad

 

Ingredients Amount
Sweet potato 500 gms
Onions 2 no
Bell pepper 1-2 no
Crushed garlic 2-3 cloves
Baby corn 7-8 no.
Brocolli 5-6 florets
Coriander leaves Few sprigs
Pepper Powder 1 tsp
Salt To taste
Ricebran Oil 1 TBSP
Lime juice ½-1 no

METHOD:

  1. Steam and Peel sweet potatoes, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Cut onions and bell peppers into quarters, and cut each quarter into half.
  2. In a pan, add 1-2 TBSPricebran oil. Add crushed garlic, onions, broccoli and baby corn. Cook for a minute. Toss together sweet potatoes. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.
  3. Sauté until golden brown. Sprinkle lime juice over it.
  4. Garnish with coriander leaves

 

  1. MOONG CHAT

Moong Salad

 

Ingredients Amount
Whole moong 2 TBSP
Curds made of skim milk 100 gms
Tomatoes 1/3 cup
Onion 1/3 cup
Red chilly powder ¼ tsp
Green coriander chutney 1 tbsp
Date chutney 1 tbsp
Salt To taste
Roasted jeera powder ¼ tsp

METHOD:

1.Sprout the Moong.

2.To the sprouted Moong add curds(beaten), chopped tomatoes, onion, red chili powder, green coriander chutney, date chutney and roasted jeera powder. Mix well

3.Garnish with coriander leaves and date chutney. Serve chilled.

 

  1. BOILED CHANA SALAD

boiled chana salad

Ingredients Amount
Kabuli chana 2 TBSP(unsoaked)
Tomatoes ½ cup
Onions ¼ cup
Lime ½ no.
Red chilly powder ¼ tsp
Salt To taste

 

METHOD:

1. Soak 2 TBSP of Kabuli chana for more than 8 hours. Boil them

2. Add the chopped onions and tomatoes.

3. Add red chilli powder, salt and lime.

4. Mix well. Garnish with coriander and serve.

 

  1. CUCUMBER RAITA 

cucumber raita

Ingredients Amount
Curd (made of low fat milk) ½ cup
Cucumber 1 whole
Coriander leaves Handful
Jeera powder ½ tsp
Pepper powder ¼ tsp
Salt To taste

 

METHOD:

1. Grate the cucumber into curd.

2. Add the chopped coriander leaves to the mixture and mix well

3. Add pepper powder, salt and jeera powder.

4. Serve chilled with any of the main dishes/ flat breads

P.S- You can also use mix veggies, bottle gourd, and pumpkin instead of cucumber

BENEFITS OF THESE SALADS:

  1. Nutrient dense- Rich in vitamins, minerals and flavonoids
  2. Has good protein content
  3. Fiber rich- Good for your digestive system
  4. Immune booster- Rich in various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and water content, helps cleanse your system

These are some of the basic salads which everyone can make at ease to give a break to their boring salad plate. So which salad are you trying today?

If you have some interesting salad recipes, do share it with me. Will love to hear it from you

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Trekking is not difficult…If you know how to walk

trekking
There are all kinds of exercises that one adheres to for fitness. For me hiking or trekking is one way to remain physically and mentally fit. My friends and colleagues who are not into adventure activities like trekking or cycling always thought I was a nerd who at the drop of a hat will leave everything to take off to the mountains for 20 to 25 days or go for long distance cycling. They would always wonder what kind of a holiday is this where you go and tax yourself again instead of relaxing and enjoying yourself on a holiday.

For most of the level-headed outsider who is  unexposed to the outdoors or wilderness – trekking is normally associated as arduous task trudging on some hard and uneven ground, climbing and walking on moraines amidst hostile environment with bare shelter, food and clothing essentials. My friends and colleagues could never fathom the fact that I would come back looking more fresh, rejuvenated and happy than ever before. One can never understand the gung-ho attitude after completing a trek until one has venture into a task of this nature.

At the outset let me tell you that trekking is fun and not laborious. That’s a myth according to me. Believe me, start slow. Begin with a small hike into the wilderness over the weekend and see how happy you come back.

So what is it about trekking that makes one so happy and rejuvenated? Is trekking so difficult that only a select few can do? These questions are best answered by experiencing a trek firsthand. For those who are still trying to make up their mind and confused whether to venture into something like this or no,  let me give you a sneak preview of what hiking or trekking is but this in no way can compensate the real experience.

trekking2

Hiking applies to shorter routes and plain walks. These are simpler & controlled environment version of trek. Trekking applies to more rigorous walking along different terrains and altitudes. If you want to get used to walking in the wilderness and getting a whiff of the outdoors one can start simple with short hikes. Although these activities leads one into unknown territories and gets the environment challenging and physically uncomfortable, it still remains safe when approached with the right guides.

While trekking you might come across situations where you are stuck and most times hit by the sheer untouched beauty of the, a picture perfect image that embeds itself permanently in your memory as you are exposed to the wilderness for a longer duration in a day. This beauty can be seldom enjoyed while in a car. While trekking you confront complete new situations as the day progresses slowly. Every little thing through the journey becomes an important memory to be cherished all your life. Human togetherness becomes simple in the face of this challenging lifestyle for the otherwise confused and unprepared mind.

Having this let me assure you that trekking is not tough. Believe me if you know to walk then you can trek as well. When I say this it does not mean that you venture into unknown territories on your own to explore the unknown. Walking along a trail around with a backpack does not require exceptional skills but does require certain amount of physical fitness, planning, the right clothes, shoes and above all old common sense.

A first time trekker should start with easy effortless trails of one hour or so and then work your way up to longer, more difficult treks. The difficulty of any trek or walk depends on the hilliness of the terrain, and altitude. Most walking trips, tailored for moderately active people, cover gentle terrain at low altitudes, and many have optional shorter routes. One can also take breaks along the trails. This applies to treks in Maharashtra or anywhere in South India.

Himalayan treks where the altitude is over 8000 feet and can extend up to 18,000 feet needs mental conditioning and excellent physical fitness. Most professional outfits organizing these treks can assess your fitness levels. If in doubt, be conservative, especially when it comes to the dizziness and shortness of breath associated with high altitudes. At high altitudes, altitude sickness is one of the first and foremost things that one needs to take care of. I would recommend further reading on altitude sickness and one can also contact your organizer for the same before going on a long trek.

One basic and important thing to remember while trekking is to respect nature and environment. While on a trek you are forced to live in harmony with nature and her moods, for every pain that your limbs feel while trekking, there is this rewarding and enriching feeling of rejuvenation that you will come across due to this very harmonizing quality.

Essential Skills

Skills needed for trekking apply to any outdoor sport. A course in basic first aid wouldn’t hurt, but the least you can know is how to bandage a wound and detect the signs of dehydration and heatstroke. Learn to understand the weather conditions of the day.

Gear Up: This is the basic that an individual should understand while trekking. The right backpack is a must. Have a backpack which fits well on your back and does not ‘hang’. Therefore choose a backpack with multiple pockets, padded shoulder straps, and large zipper closure. And make sure it’s the right size: When properly adjusted, the base should sit on your hips and the top should be at least one hand-width below the base of your neck. A fit backpack on your back is half the battle won while trekking.

The rest half of the battle is won with the right clothes and shoes. Wear loose clothes like tracks or cotton slacks or trousers with a loose T-Shirt. Avoid wearing denims especially during monsoons. If it gets wet it gets very heavy thus making it difficult for you to walk. On a Himalayan Trek a multipurpose jacket which can take the cold as well as the wind is a must.

While on a Himalayan trek it is recommended that you wear woolen or synthetic blend socks designed to wick moisture away from the feet, as wet feet is the primary cause of blisters.

Footwear designed specifically for trekking offers better support and traction. Choose a pair that’s a half-size larger than your street shoes to allow for some swelling as you walk and to accommodate slightly heavy hiking or a towel socks.

That little tingle of friction you feel on your foot before you get a blister. Don’t ignore the feeling: Take off your boot and wrap your foot with a light cloth before that tingling evolves into a full-fledged blister.

Some things to keep in your day pack: first-aid kit; water bottle; Swiss Army knife; topographic map; compass and sweater or a jacket. Jacket is advisable while trekking in the monsoons in Maharashtra and of course it is a must while on a Himalayan Trek.

On any trek avoid carrying electronic gadgets like music players or the likes. These require ample batteries and they amount to lot of weight. This is very essential to note on a Himalayan Trek. Many electronics refuse to work below freezing or in cold conditions. Cold electronics gadgets consume more battery and hence you will have to carry extra batteries and hence extra load. Each pencil cell battery will weigh about 50 gms and if you plan to carry even five extra pairs that add 500 gms, besides the problem of disposing them. Used batteries are considered to be one of the biggest environmental hazards. These also attract the attention of locals / porters and may induce them into theft. Protecting your electronics from the elements may pose another challenge.

Carry batteries only for your camera: Carry the essential amount. The rule is always that know what you want and only click those that will also save you from wasting rolls (in case you are not using a digital camera).

Benefits of Trekking

Some basics to bear in mind: 

• Walk straight and when at slopes never sit and climb down it will get more painful.
• When tired please avoid sitting down on the trail. This will only increase the tiredness further and make it difficult for you start walking again
• Always carry salt and sugar with you and mix it with your water. An easier option is to have Electoral or Glucose mixed with your bottle of water.
• Never gulp water when you halt to take a break only sip water.
• Whenever you feel uneasy immediately make it a point to tell your trek leader or your organizer. So that things do not get out of hand.
• It’s always nice to keep a small notepad with you to jot down your experiences and also details on the place.

Please Note: While most of these apply to a normal local treks, there are few specifics for Himalaya Treks. In this note I have jotted some most important things for the Himalayan Treks 

Monsoons are soon to begin and it’s the best season in Maharashtra to take to trekking in the Sahyadri ranges.
Happy Trekking!

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