A Carrot a Day !!

Vegetable markets these days are flooded with fresh and juicy carrots , both the long reddish ones and smaller orange Mahableshwar carrots. Considering the very many interesting ways in which carrots can be consumed and their multiple health benefits, this is the best time to make carrots a part of our daily diet and enjoy them through the day! 

While carrots have multiple health benefits, what inspires me to consume them is that they improve eye sight,  are good for skin and cleansing of the body. I begin my day with a freshly squeezed glass of carrot juice, either by itself or with beetroot or tomato. Have carrots as part of my lunch, enjoy a carrot pickle with my dal chawal at lunch, often have a carrot soup pre-dinner and a carrot methi sabzi with roti for dinner. And when I feel indulgent , I wind it all up with a bowl of delicious gajar halwa. 

I hope my diet inspires you to start having a liberal dose of carrots everyday and keep healthy ! 

Broccoli Soup

Mumbai has turned nice and chilly over the past couple of days. A bowl of freshly made, hot Broccoli soup and toast is the perfect thing to have when you get back home from work!

Ingredients

1 medium sized Broccoli broken in florets
1 medium sized onion finely chopped
1 medium sized potato peeled and cut into small pieces
1/2 cup milk
1/2 inch piece ginger finely chopped
5-8 almonds soaked in a little water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp grated cheese (optional)

Method

Wash broccoli, onion and potato and put in pressure cooker with ginger and three cups of water. Close cooker and cook for one whistle and turn off the flame. Allow to cool. Peel almonds and grind  with a little milk and keep aside. Open cooker . When the vegetables are cool, put them in the blender along with almond paste . Blend well . Pour in a pan, add milk, salt and pepper to taste and heat to required temperature. Serve hot , garnished with grated cheese and crisp hot garlic toasts

Tilgul -- Not just a Sankranti Delicacy but Healthy too !!

It's harvest season and everyone is  celebrating Baisakhi, Pongal, Bihu and Makarsankranti this week! While we relish  delicious 'Til' (sesame seeds) ladoos, chikkis , rewdis etc on these festival days, I wonder how many of us are aware  about  the  great nutritional value of til or sesame seeds.  Here are some little known facts about Til, after reading which , you might make a Makar Sankranti resolution to have sesame seeds or til  round the year and not keep it as a Sankranti must have!!  .

Benefits of Til (Sesame Seeds)

Full of Great Protein: Sesame seeds are full of high quality protein. Protein makes up 20 percent of the seed with 4.7 grams of protein per ounce.

Helps Prevent Diabetes: Sesame seeds contain magnesium and other nutrients. Sesame oil has been shown to prevent diabetes, and it can also improve plasma glucose in hypersensitive diabetics.

Reduces Blood Pressure: The same study above reveals how sesame oil lowers blood pressure in diabetics. Sesame seeds are full of magnesium – a key nutrient known to help lower blood pressure.

Good for Digestion: The high fiber content of sesame seeds helps the intestines with elimination.

For Healthy Skin: The high zinc content helps produce collagen, giving skin more elasticity and helping repair damaged body tissues. 

Prevents Wrinkles: Sesame seed oil prevents harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from damaging your skin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation.

Hair Benefits: Sesame seed oil is full of the nutrients needed for a healthy scalp and hair.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-health-benefits-of-sesame-you-wont-believe.html#ixzz3xDTan6S1

New Year Resolution of Eating Healthy and Staying Fit !!!

End December Early Jan is generally the time most people make good resolutions and generally one of them is eating healthy.

My Mantra for eating healthy is a nourishing breakfast, a tasty but light lunch and early, small dinner.

Listing down some of the things that I have for breakfast... which I rotate based on my mood.

• 5 almonds soaked in water and peeled (everyday)
• A bowl of fruit - Papaya/Melon/strawberries/ Bananas/ Chiku/ Assorted (everyday)
• Cereal : Cornflakes with milk, oats with milk, daliya with dahi/milk/jaggery 
• Eggs : Boiled, scrambled, poached, omlette, half fried
• Brown Bread Toast
• Methi Roti / Khakra 
• Poha/ Upma/ Aloo Paratha

My lunch generally comprises of  : daal/moong/chowli, 1 vegetable, salad and rotis with a bowl of dahi

Dinner is light: Either soup, salad and baked dish or khichdi with dahi and papad

This diet helps me to stay active and fit. I do indulge by having a chocolate/piece of cake/barfi a few times a week.

If I am hungry in between , I either have a fruit of a handful of chana/ nuts or dry bhel.