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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 Eating: Poha Dhokla

poha dhokla

Homemade meals will always be the best and we’ve all come to realize that. But, if you’re running out of ways to make healthy eating interesting, we’ve got an amazing breakfast recipe for you which combines two dishes. We give you the Poha Dhokla! 

What You Will Need 

  • Poha: 100gm
  • Semolina/Rava: 2-3tbsp
  • Buttermilk: 1.5 to 2 glasses
  • Ginger: 1-2 tsp (paste)
  • Green chillies: 2-3 tsp (paste)
  • Coriander: 2-3 tbsp (chopped)
  • Turmeric: 1 tsp
  • Salt: as per the taste
  • Sugar: 1/2-1 tsp

How To Prepare

  1. In a vessel, add poha, semolina, ginger paste, green chillies paste, coriander, turmeric, salt, sugar and mix them well
  2. Now add buttermilk, mix it well and leave this batter for 30 mins
  3. The main trick in this recipe is that after 15 mins, check the consistency. If it’s too runny, add 1 tbsp of poha and wait for another 15 mins. 
  4. After 30 mins, mix the batter very well for 5 mins till it gets a good consistency
  5. If the batter is too dry, then you may add half a cup of water and mix it well
  6. Taste the batter once to check if you need to add some salt and green chillies
  7. Take an oil greased plate and pour this batter into it
  8. Level the batter in the dish and steam it for 10-15 mins
  9. By the time the dhokla cools down, turn on the flame, take a small pan, add oil (let it get warm), then add mustard seeds(black) & curry leaves, let them crackle and turn off the flame
  10. Put this oil with mustard & curry leaves over the dhokla
  11. Now make pieces of dhokla and serve it by garnishing it with a little bit of coriander.

Benefits of Poha Dhokla 

  • It’s a good, balanced source of carbohydrates and proteins in one meal
  • It can be categorised as a probiotic, as it is rich in good bacteria
  • As it has a high fiber content, it is quite fulfilling
  • It can be easily consumed by someone suffering from digestive issues like acidity, bloating and constipation as it soothes the gut
  • You can eat this as a snack as well as a major meal option 

We hope you enjoy this healthy Poha Dhokla recipe. Do share your experience with us in the comments below. For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or you can ask a GOQii Coach directly by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Barley and Ragi: The Best Grains For Diabetes & Their Benefits

Best grains for diabetes If you’re diagnosed with Diabetes, white rice and anything made with white flour such as bread or pasta and other refined grains are off the table. This leaves us with little options. Out of these limited options, Barley and Ragi can work wonders if you want to stop those surges in blood sugar. Here’s why we think Barley and Ragi are the best grains for diabetes.

Why Are Barley and Ragi The Best Grains For Diabetes?

Barley is a wonder grain, not only for diabetics, but for everyone. This grain helps diabetics specifically because it is high in fiber content (soluble and insoluble) which makes it a low GI food. Consuming Barley will not raise your blood sugar levels like a piece of bread or a cup of polished white rice would.

If you’re wondering how Barley achieves that, it’s because of the Beta Glucan fibers in it. Thanks to these fibers, the release of sugars in the bloodstream is slowed and when consumed, it helps a person keep their sugar levels well within the target zones – for post prandial – that is post meal sugar, as well as the fasting sugar levels, which improve because consuming barley keeps you satiated for a longer duration, so you are less hungry and eat less frequently.

Moreover, Barley is a good source of magnesium which is very important for diabetics as deficiency of magnesium is known to cause insulin resistance, and a magnesium-rich diet helps in improving insulin sensitivity of cells which results in better blood sugar control. 1 cup of barley consumption covers 61% of your daily magnesium requirement.

What Is The Best Way To Consume Barley? 

Make sure to go for hull-less Barley which is the truly whole grain variety of Barley. More processed type is known as pearl Barley and may have less nutrient density as compared to hull-less Barley. The way to consume it is by adding it to soups, stuffing, flour, etc. or by having barley water more commonly known as ‘Jau Ka Pani’ which is prepared by soaking a cup of barley overnight. Adding Barley in a diabetic diet serves a lot of benefits!

How Does Ragi Help Manage Diabetes? 

If we speak of Ragi, it also comes from the millet family and contains higher amounts of calcium and phosphorus as compared to some other cereals and grains. Diabetics who have gluten resistance and cannot consume wheat or barley can opt for Ragi as it is gluten-free. Ragi also has very less cholesterol and very high antioxidant activity, which helps meet the overall nutritional requirement for a diabetic. 

However, it’s best to consume Ragi in moderation and rotate with other whole grains for best benefits on sugar control. For diabetics, the best approach to carbohydrate consumption is to stick to rotation of whole grain foods.

We hope this article on the best grains for diabetes helps you. For more on managing diabetes, check out Healthy Reads. 

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

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