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Healthy Eating: Vegetable Masoor Rice

vegetable masoor rice

Can there be this one quick and easy meal which can fulfill all your nutritional needs? What if we told you there is! It is a personal favorite called the Vegetable Masoor Rice! This pot recipe gives you all the required nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. Thanks to the veggies, it also has fiber, antioxidants and essential vitamins! This meal can be enjoyed by all members of your family.

Ingredients for the Vegetable Masoor Rice

  • Overnight Soaked Masoor – 1 cup
  • Soaked Rice (2hr) – 1.5 cup
  • Finely Chopped Onion, Carrot, French Beans – ½ Cup Each
  • Green Peas – ½ Cup
  • Finely Chopped Coriander – 2 tbsp
  • Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 tbsp
  • Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds – ½ tsp each
  • Bay Leaf – 1
  • Small Cinnamon Stick
  • Red Chilly Powder – 1 tbsp
  • Turmeric – 1 tsp
  • Garam Masala – 1 tsp
  • Oil – 1 tbsp

How to Prepare

  1. Heat oil in a pan on a medium flame.
  2. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, mustard seeds and cumin seeds in the oil. Once the seeds crackle, add onion to the pan now and sauté.
  3. After the onions turn golden brown, add ginger garlic paste and sauté for few seconds.
  4. Add drained Masoor dal, carrot, beans and green peas to the mixture.
  5. Next, you add turmeric, red chilly powder, garam masala, salt and mix them well.
  6. Add the soaked rice and mix well.
  7. Follow it up with 3 cups of water and allow it to cook in the pan till the water evaporates on medium flame.
  8. Once the water evaporates, cover it with a lid and allow it to cook for another 5-7 minutes.
  9. When cooked, garnish the rice with coriander and serve hot!

Please Note: you can also use sprouted mung or Spilt Chana dal instead of Masoor.

Highlights of the Recipe

  • It is the best main meal ever! Eat this rice along with tomato, onion and cucumber raita. It tastes amazing.
  • It is extremely satiating and a good way to make your family eat vegetables and a rarely used pulse like Masoor.
  • This is your best pick for lunch and dinner!

Did you enjoy this healthy Vegetable Masoor Rice recipe? Do try it out and leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more Healthy Recipes, check out Healthy Reads. You can also get these delicious recipes directly from your GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Navratri Special Recipe: Falhari Cheela

Falhari Cheela

In my previous article, I shared a healthy Falhari Dhokla recipe. As promised, I am going to share another yummy recipe you can make and enjoy with your family this festive season! Falhari Cheela is kind of pancake made from a combination of Singhara Atta (Water Chestnut Flour) and Kuttu ka Atta (Buckwheat Flour).

These flours contain many health benefits and nutrients such as protein, calcium and vitamins which keep one energetic during fasting. The batter is spiced up with Indian spices and finely chopped green chillies.

How to Prepare Falhari Cheela

What you will need:

  • Kuttu ka Atta (Buckwheat Flour) – ½ cup
  • Singhara ka Atta (Water Chestnut Flour) – ½ cup
  • Chopped Green Chilli – 1
  • Chopped Coriander Leaves
  • Jeera (Cumin) – 2 teaspoon
  • Haldi (Turmeric Powder) – ½ tsp
  • Black Pepper Powder – 2 tsp
  • Salt to taste
  • Ghee (for cooking)

Method

  1. In a bowl, add the flour, chopped chilli along with coriander leaves, jeera, haldi, balck pepper and salt.
  2. Mix the batter with enough water to get a pouring consistency.
  3. Heat a non-stick pan and pour a ladle of batter and spread it evenly like a pancake. Do not spread the batter a lot, as it would then stick to the pan.
  4. Add a teaspoon of ghee on the sides of cheela and spread some sesame seeds to add a crunchy flavor.
  5. Cook on both sides for about 2 minutes until done.
  6. Serve the hot Falhari Cheela with Tamatar ki Chutney (Tomato Chutney) or Coconut Peanut Chutney.

Highlights of the Recipe

  • Falhari Cheela is perfect for breakfast or dinner. It is filling and easy to digest.
  • The oil/ghee used is minimum, as it is not fried.

This Navratri, let’s take a pledge to eat as healthy as possible. For tips on how to stay healthy during Navratri, ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Do you have a special healthy Navratri recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

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This Wonder Fruit Can Keep You Cool!

Kokum BenefitsWe have all been experiencing the brunt of the unbearable heat this month. With temperatures soaring high, even a walk under the sun can be a strenuous experience. What if we told you that there was a way to cool your body naturally? Would you try it? This fruit, grown only in the coastal regions of South India, has powerful cooling abilities. You are all familiar with it. We are in fact talking about Kokum!

It’s scientific name is Garcinia Indica, and is mostly used in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other Southern regions. The Indian Spice Board has classified it both as a spice as well as a fruit. As a fruit, it is usually broken into half and dried. Colour ranges from purple to dark black. The darker the colour, the better it is. Dried Kokum usually stays for a year if placed in an airtight container.

How Do You Use It?

  • Culinary purpose: It is known for its sour taste. It can be replaced for tamarind in dishes like Sambhar, coconut curries, fish curries, regular yellow Gujarati style dal. Two or three small dried kokums are enough to prepare a single dish.
  • As a coolant in summers: Kokum Sherbet and Solkadhi

Kokum Sherbet

A glass of Kokum Sherbet before you step out in the sun or once you come indoors will do wonders. Usually, you get ready-made pulp which needs to be diluted with water OR you can prepare this pulp at home. Here is the short method on how to prepare it at home:

  1. Soak a cup of Kokum in water for 3-4 hours
  2. Once soft, mash them and strain the liquid
  3. In a pan, take the leftover pulp, add sugar (same amount as kokum), 1tsp of cumin seeds powder and salt as per taste
  4. Stir and cook this mixture until sugar melts.
  5. Add the strained Kokum water and cook for 5 more minutes
  6. Let it cool and store the Kokum concentrate in a container

Solkadhi

This drink is made from coconut milk and Kokum. It is usually consumed with a rice preparation or it is drunk after meals. Here’s the method to prepare it at home:

  • Soak a cup of Kokum and keep it aside for 30 mins
  • Once soft, mash them and strain the liquid
  • Add half a glass of coconut milk to the liquid and stir well
  • Temper it with cumin seeds if you like

Kokum Butter

Used for cosmetic purposes only, Kokum Butter helps to unclog pores, kills bacteria, reduces acne and smoothens skin. It as a whole or its products like Kokum powder, oil, butter or Kokum rinds are all available.

Health Benefits 

  • Ayurvedic Uses: Eases the episodes of diarrhoea, dysentery and piles by fighting against bacteria like E. Coli. The cooling effect of Kokum helps in getting relief from burning sensations due to stomach ulcers. It fights against ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter Pylori.
  • Weight Management: Want to lose those extra kilos? Hydroxycitric Acid found in Kokum is an anti-obesity agent. It gives you a feeling of fullness and you end up eating less.
  • Anti-Cancer Effect: Garcinol, an antioxidant found in Kokum inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
  • Relieves Anxiety and Depression: Serotonin is a  hormone. Hydroxycitric Acid in it increases the level of this feel-good hormone, thereby reduces the anxiety.
  • Slows Down Skin Ageing: Kokum butter helps to smoothen the skin. It is found in various lip balms, creams and moisturizers. Ageing happens when an enzyme, Elastase breaks down the Elastin of skin (Elastin keeps your skin supple and intact). It inhibits the action of Elastase and thereby stops the breaking of the pigment Elastin.

What are you waiting for? Go out there and stock up on this wonder Spice! Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

For more on beating the summer heat, check out Healthy Reads or get great tips from experts by subscribing for GOQii’s personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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5 Healthy Juices For Weight Loss

Juices for weight loss

One of the golden rules to live by is to include at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables to our diet every day. While this seems hard for some people because of the sugar content in fruit juices, you can’t deny the fact that one can get numerous micronutrients from them. While juices alone won’t help you lose weight, you can add these nutrient rich, less sugar blends to your existing regime and see drastic improvements! Try these amazing juices for weight loss now!

Best Natural Juices For Weight Loss

Below are some recipes we think can help you in your journey to lose weight. More greens are useful than fruits but this variety and blends will definitely help you a lot to not just detox, but supply your body with the nutrients it needs.

1. Clean and Green Detox Juice

juices for weight loss

Ingredients:

  • Apples
  • Kale
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Basil

Method:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender
  2. 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 & Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Beetroots
  • Carrots
  • Strawberries

Method:

  1. Peel beetroots and chop the carrots. Add strawberries to the veggies and blend it in a blender
  2. 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 weight 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: 3 leaves

Method:

  1. Wash mint and kale leaves and put in blender. Chop the watermelon, remove the seeds and place in blender.
  2. 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 nature, are mainly water and sugar, thus making them a low calorie, weight loss assistant. This is a handy juice 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:

  • Lemon: 1/4th cup
  • Water: 1/2 cup
  • Spinach: 1 whole
  • Apple (secret ingredient)

Method:

  1. Cut up lemons and remove seeds. Add spinach, lemon and water to blender.
  2. Add 1 apple with skin. Mix thoroughly. Add more apple if you want to sweeten more.
  3. 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 sweetener, but it is also a fantastic source of antioxidants and minerals. This is the best juice for weight loss because it contains the minerals and micro-nutrients from spinach and apples but also assists in weight loss due to the lemons.

5. Cucumber Kiwi Juice

Ingredients:

  • Kiwi – 2 whole
  • Cucumber – 1 whole
  • Lemon – 1/2
  • Water – 1/4 Cup

Method:

  1. Chop and peel the kiwis and cucumber. Blend together.
  2. 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.

There you go! We hope these juices aid you on your weight loss journey. More importantly, consult with your doctor before trying these in case you have any allergies.

Which recipe did you like the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more recipes, check out Healthy Reads. To get more tips and guidance on your weight loss journey, speak with a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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