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Unparalleled Taste of the Awadhi Cuisine

The sumptuous meal that the city of Awadh has to offer is nothing short of magical. The royalty and the grandeur of it will leave you mesmerized. It will leave an everlasting impression on your taste buds. You’ll always want some more of it. You will get the Nawabi feel in every bite you take. Such is the magnificence of the Awadhi cuisine. The city is notably famous for the dum style of cooking. It originated in Awadh, or the present day Lucknow. This style of cooking goes back to the 16^th century. The food is cooked over a slow fire in a closed container. With the increased time of cooking, the entire flavour of the spices and herbs used, is released into the dish. This gives a distinct taste to the Awadhi cuisine. Sometimes cooking dough is used to seal the mouth of the container in which the dish is being prepared. This leads to aroma of the spices to seep through the dough, thus providing it with a flavour.

Awadhi Dumpukht

Not just the style of cooking, but also the way in which the meal is spread out elaborately, will make your mouth water. The presentation of the food has a royal touch to it. When you sit down to eat, it will appear to you that you’re a king and everyone on the table is waiting for you to take the first bite! In the olden times, the spread was laid out in the centre and it was necessary for everyone to sit around and eat together. Such a spread is known as Dastarkhwan. It consists of a variety of dishes like kebabs, korma, biryani, roomali rotis, nihari kulchas, sheermal etc. Such practices can still be observed around the city. The menu of the Dastarkhwan changes with the seasons.

A typical example of the spread: Dastarkhwan

The menu of winters is very different from that of spring. In winters, heat giving, rich meat is preferred. During spring, various kinds of crispy snacks are prepared. Similarly during summers, a variety of dishes and desserts are prepared using raw mangoes. Sewaiyan is another sweet dish which can be often seen in the houses during the pious months of Ramzan. The dishes that form a major part of the Awadhi platter are Kebabs, Biryani, Korma and a variety of breads. Kebab is the identity and pride of Lucknow. Kebabs are made from meat, fish or vegetables that are grilled on a chulha. Lucknow boasts a wide variety of Kebabs, namely, Kakori Kebabs, Seekh Kebabs, Galawat ke Kebabs, Ghutwa Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, and Boti Kebabs etc. Vegetarian kebabs are made using yam, kidney beans, jackfruit (kathal), peas and taro (arbi). The most famous shop for kebabs in Lucknow is the Tunde Ke Kabab. It is a 100 year old shop which serves the best kebabs in the city. It boasts of using 160 different homemade spices which is their trade secret. The who’s who of Bollywood come all the way to try out these kebabs. The list of the fans is endless. So many of the Bollywood biggies fly out the khansamas (cooks) from here to cater their functions. This is surely a feat to be proud of.

Galouti Kebabs

Lakhnawi biryani is another dish that is famous worldwide. It is a special preparation of basmati rice with species, curd, meat and/or vegetables. It uses the method of layering. The meat and the rice are cooked separately. They are then layered on top of each other and baked. Vegetarian biryani is also very common.

Biryani

The various types of breads that are eaten are chapatis, pooris, parathas, naans, roomali roti, tandoori roti and sheermal (sweet naan). Korma is the curry used which is made by braising meat or vegetables in case of navratan korma. The Awadhi desserts have the perfect kind of sweetness and taste that is required after a meal. Kulfi is one such dessert which is famous among the masses. It is made from rich milk and cream. Prakash Ki Mashhoor Kulfi is the oldest known shop for kulfi. They offer the best falooda kulfi in the city. A type of halwa which is specially prepared in Lucknow is the sohan halwa. Different cereals like gram flour, sooji, wheat etc. are used to prepare halwa. It is heavily garnished with rich dry fruits. The barfi, jalebi and rabri are some other desserts to look up to. After the meal, consumption of Paan is quite common. An evening without Paan is thought to be incomplete. Paan is made from betel leaf which is garnished with saffron, spices, silver foils and other condiments.

Falooda Kulfi By Prakaksh ki Mashoor Kulfi

After boasting of the nawabi Awadhi cuisine, Lucknow still has a lot to show off in terms of street food. Be it Idris ki biryani or Shukla ki Chaat, be it Rahim ke Kulchey Nihari or Royal Café k paani-batashe, every single one of them is worth a try. And when you try them once, you’re surely going to be a fan. The originality of the taste will hold you spellbound. Paapdi chaat, tikki chaat, dahi bada, paani poori, sev poori etc., the names are enough to tickle your taste buds. Where else can you get eight different types of paani for the paani puri at one stall? That’s right, in this magical city which has a cuisine so quintessential!

Aaloo Tikki by Shukla ki Chaat

The mouth-watering delicacies that this culture offers are just too many to name. Piece of advice, go try out some Awadhi cuisine, you are missing out on a lot. Trust me, you’ll be thankful!

May 29, 2014
Maggi Mania

On Mondays, they serve Matar Paneer in the mess. But as my friend down the hall puts it, it is better described as “water Paneer” – a few peas and an even fewer pieced of cottage cheese swimming in a curry that’s all but water. Needless to spell out, you walk out of the mess feeling less than full. Two hours on, you fall prey to crazy hunger pangs. The solution? Why, a packet of Maggi noodles of course!

If you have ever lived in a hostel in the last thirty years or so, the story above must be only too familiar. But the massive popularity of Maggi noodles is definitely not confined within the poster-clad walls of college hostels. If you live in India, you probably have slurped on a plateful at some point or another. So much so, that everyone has a “Maggi memory” – and the manufactures have very cleverly tapped into this nostalgia factor associated with Maggi noodles as a major marketing strategy. In fact, in India, “Maggi” is synonymous with instant noodles, despite the existence of other brands. According to a report by Euromonitor, Nestle has 60% of the instant noodle market in India with Maggi – the first instant noodle introduced in the country. Marketed as a “2 Minute Noodles” since 1982, the manufacturers seem to have stumbled upon a highly saleable hit formula back then and never looked back.

At the same time, despite being arguably one of India’s most popular food brands, Maggi has repeatedly come under the scanner for being unhealthy. What, then, accounts for the unparalleled popularity of Maggi noodles in India? And what is the controversy all about? Let’s explore.

The popularity:

Why are Maggi noodles as popular as they are? Perhaps, the most common-sensical answer is the extreme convenience they guarantee. They are very inexpensive – available in packets worth 10 and 5. This implies that almost everyone, from broke college students to budget-conscious moms, can afford to put a few packets of Maggi on their shopping list – and pretty frequently. Besides, Maggi noodles are as easy to cook as can be. If you were a child of the ‘80s, the ‘90s, or the ‘00s (yes – three generations), chances are Maggi was the first thing you were ever actually allowed to cook. Late night hunger pangs at home? Campsite snack-craving? Maggi is your one simple answer.

Effective marketing is another factor that accounts for the unprecedented popularity of Maggi noodles in India.

“Mummy Bhookh lagi!”

“Bas 2 minute!”

These signature Maggi lines are indeed unforgettable. They highlight how easy it is to cook the noodles, the fact that they are seldom ready in 2 minutes notwithstanding. Here’s another slogan you’ll remember: “Taste Bhi, Health Bhi”. This one’s aimed at putting a mom’s misgivings about exposing her child to a potentially unhealthy food at rest. A food that your child loves – and you will indeed have a hard time finding a child whodoes not love Maggi noodles – and it promises health? That’s the dream!

Perhaps, another reason why Maggi noodles have a wide appeal is the fact that they take well to the addition of different ingredients – veggies, chicken, cheese, butter, ketchup, etc. In fact, there are entire road-side joints selling only different types of Maggi noodles – Masala Maggi, Cheese Maggi, Butter Maggi, Chicken Maggi, Egg Maggi, Spicy Maggi – you name it, they have it.

The Controversy:

You have probably received emails and SMSes warning you against the possible wax content of Maggi noodles. Yes, the same ones that probably also told you about Kurkure containing plastic and Coke being an excellent toilet cleaner, etc. While viral mass messages are rarely to be taken at face value, food critics have also condemned Maggi noodles for being low in nutrition and high in salt, MSG, and fat. It was to counter this ‘unhealthy’ tag that the brand marketers quickly came up with the “Taste Bhi Health Bhi” slogan. They also came up with the new Maggi Atta noodles. With a healthy green packaging and new tags – with the “goodness of three rotis” and “with vegetables” – these noodles were obviously aimed at driving home a more-than-subliminal message about better health.

So, on the one hand there are all these allegations about the noodles being fried in wax and animal fat before packaging and apprehensions about unhealthy packaging that causes the plastic to leach into the actual food, and on the other, there is the manufacturer’s claim that it’s all good and safe and healthy. What do we as consumers believe?

The Middle-way:

While we may never know the full truth, it probably lies somewhere in between the scare-mongering and the slick marketing. The Atta noodles may be slightly better than the maida ones, but three desiccated peas and five shreds of dehydrated carrots in the Tastemaker hardly count for “added vegetables”. Nutritionally there isn’t much that Maggi noodles can offer, unless you decide to mix in your own ingredients (like fresh vegetables or protein-rich lean meats). Also, now that the ‘No MSG’ claim is prominently made on the packet, know that it is highly plausible that other substitutes are used for it – such as excess salt. There is also the claim that the product has “goodness of protein/calcium/fibre” – know that it perhaps has just enough to let the manufacturers legally make that claim.

So while you may love Maggi – for reasons of taste, nostalgia, or convenience, don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking that it is anything close to as healthy as the marketing chaps would have you believe. But that does not mean that you have to buy into the charges of toxicity made by the alarmists either. Like so many other things in life, moderation is the key. An occasional Maggi meal really doesn’t need to make you feel guilty.

May 29, 2014
Midnight Demons : Counter Your Cravings

It is 11:00 p.m. You are watching T.V. Suddenly, a Dominoz commercial appears on the screen with their latest schemes and a sumptuous pizza flashes on the screen, and WHOOOSH…!!! U get severe hunger pangs, and well, you go to the kitchen, search for stock of chocolates, cakes or your favorite cookies to munch on. For most of the people, their midnight Maggi is the ultimate solace for these cravings. Ah, well, the tale doesn’t here. Then, after you satisfy your temptations, you have guilty feelings for consuming those extra calories. But you convince yourself by thinking that, it is just for tonight, and if we’re not meant to have midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge? And after coming to senses, you promise yourself to control this craving from next day. And the whole midnight tale repeats itself the following night.

The reasons behind these late night snacking are complex and various and range from boredom, restlessness, insomnia to loneliness, self-denial and nutritional imbalance and the first step towards overcoming a late-night snacking habit is figuring out the reason behind your nocturnal munching.

So here are a few simple steps which can help you control those hunger demons –

Self- talk : Go in front of the mirror and talk to yourself out loud about what you plan to eat, and why, and what you can do instead or how your favorite dress will become tight if you eat this piece of cake.

Aromatherapy : Burning aromatic candles can lower your appetite, but obviously, avoid chocolate and vanilla aromas, as they stimulate chocolate and ice-cream craving. Keep a pack of lavender with you at this time.

Keep only healthy foods at home : This is one of the best ways to stop yourself from gorging on those extra carbs. Bringing healthy snacks like muesli, digestive fibre biscuits etc. at home can help you keep your cravings at bay.

Stay busy : Take up a hobby like knitting, reading, jigsaw puzzle which will help to keep your mind off snacking.

Have a late dinner : Push your dinner back an hour or two and you will find yourself ready for bed before you have a chance to start craving a snack.

Also, here are some diet-friendly midnight snacks that will control self-destructive eating:

Water: Thirst also mimics hunger pangs, so before reaching a box of chocolates next time from your fridge, hydrate yourself with a cup or two of water. If you want something that is more savory to the taste buds, you can flavor it with sliced lemon or lime.

Milk : Milk has tryptophan, a sleep inducing amino acid that helps lull you into a deep sleep. Along with this, milk also provides us with Calcium and Vitamin D which is very good for our bones.

Popcorn : Watching a late night movie? Well popcorn is actually the right snack for you. Not only it is a good source of complex carbs, also is low in calories, in addition to being the fun movie snack.

Nuts : Nuts are a great night time nosh, they regulate blood sugar levels and promote serotonin production in body. So, reaching for a handful of your favorite nuts, which are rich in anti-oxidants is quite beneficial for you.

Craving for snacks in midnight is not a disease in itself, but it does cause obesity- related problems ad can sabotage your weight loss efforts. So as interesting and tasty as consuming these snacks sound, they are not so good for your health.

May 26, 2014
The Business of Food
Every business has a set of people who it targets, in some cases a particular group of society. They fight competition to satisfy their target customers and attract them with different marketing strategies. Every business might have a particular saturation point beyond which it is tough to expand or experiment. But, if there is one business which doesn’t have any such restrictions it is “The Business of Food”. The food business either small or large doesn’t have restrictions. You are free to explore, there is both scope and necessity for experimenting, and most importantly food has no seasons! Every business has one major goal which is “money” and you will be surprised with the amount of money involved in the food business.

Recent Trends

The Food business had not taken off until a few decades back in India, mainly because of the mindset of our people who were still not open to the idea of eating out. Indians love their home food and there were several caste restrictions when it came to eating out. But over the past two decades people have come out of their inhibitions, which have been helped by the number of people leaving their hometowns for studies and jobs.

India is the world’s second largest producer of food next to China. The total food production in India is likely to double in the next ten years and it gives immense opportunity and scope for people to invest money and effort in this huge yet budding industry.

People have started realizing the possibilities, and it can be seen with the steady increase in the number of people getting involved in food business. The myth of family business has been broken and people from all walks of life are starting to invest on food, which includes setting up small restaurants or sometimes kiosks. The youngsters especially have started taking this seriously and it is not very uncommon to engineering graduates setting up restaurants these days.

Scope

Scope and choices for food business are abundant and it requires much less effort and thought compared to most other jobs. There is immense scope since all you need for your business to shine, is to provide quality food and a few hungry people which is not very difficult to find.

There is no one way to success but the favorite choices for people who are new entrants to food business have been:
- Chat shops
- Fresh juice shops
- Ice cream parlors
- Shewermas and khatti rolls
These fast foods don’t require any huge investments in money or place. They require modest capital and just small kiosks in front of places like supermarkets and restaurants.

Food business is not restricted to these fast foods and restaurants. The raw materials required for making food, packing and selling these raw materials are also an important part of the food industry.

Employment

India is an agricultural country and still more than 70% of the people in the country are farmers, the food business has kept the trend by employing over 10million people which includes food packaging, catering among other disciplines. Catering and Hotel Management which had very few takers until a decade back are some of the hottest courses for students these days, which is an obvious indication of the job opportunities.

“Sakthi Masala” a South Indian based masala and kitchen Materials Company has a distinction of having a workforce which consists of 27% people who are physically challenged. There are several other food packaging industries which are tapping on these disabled work forces.

Food for Thought

Despite the growing interest in food industry as a source of income and employment India still contributes only 1.4% in terms of food export which is behind even some of the under-developed countries. There is a lot of demand for Indian food materials in Middle-East and Western countries which is not being utilized properly.

In addition, it is said that India produces 250 million tones food every year out of which only 220 million is consumed, while the rest is wasted. According to WHO, India wastes about Rs.58,000 crore worth food every year which is the highest among all the nations. In a country where still millions of people go to bed hungry, these stats are mind-boggling and inhuman.

The Bright Spots

In spite of all these challenges, the Indian Food industry in a pure business point of view is a real source of inspiration because of its massive success and growth in such a short span of time. The food business has caught on like a house on fire with the people, and more people have started investing heavily on food and food-oriented businesses.

There are several major business houses which are looking to enter the food business, the latest being the interest shown by Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani. These heavy investments will definitely boost the food business further.

Most importantly unlike other businesses it is highly unlikely that the food business will face a recession because “Living well means Eating well” and there is never a bad day to satisfy your taste buds!
May 26, 2014
Awesome ways to Include Mangoes into your Meals and why
Summer time is here again and we all know what that means, beside the sweltering heat and the humidity, it means mango season. This period is every child’s heaven, when mangoes are abundant so is happiness. This fruit is undoubtedly one of the most favored fruits of all times and is thus fittingly is India’s national fruit, of course it does help that India is one of the largest producers of Mango. Who doesn’t have those amazing childhood memories of sitting with family and friends and devouring one mango after another, many times we wouldn’t even wait for mangoes to ripen before sneaking into yards having mango trees with our catapults the mischievous stealing of unripened mangoes. But eventually how much mangoes can you eat, tired of having mango in the similar way, adding ice cream to mango just isn’t enough anymore? Need something better to do with the dozens of mangoes you bought which now everyone refuses to eat? well then here we have several delicious ways to use mangoes and create a wonderful meal.

Yummy Mango Milkshake

Mango milkshake is the perfect way to get kids to have milk without any hassle and it also makes a wonderfully refreshing drink to beat the heat,to make this you need Mangoes, Milk and sugar (optional if required) the way to make it is extremely easy
- Cut the mangoes into small cubes
- Blend them in the mixer until the have a smooth liquid texture
- Add cold milk
- Add sugar if required and a few ice cubes
- Enjoy this wonderful drink
You can also add bananas or strawberries to make this drink even more exciting.

Fabulous Mango Chicken Curry

This succulent savory dish is absolutely a delight, a feast to not only eat but also for the eyes, it makes a wonderful main course and all the we need is 1 table spoon butter, 1 chopped onion, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 2 pounds of chicken skinless and boneless cut into small cubes, 1 can of diced tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of curry paste and of course 1/2 cup mango chutney. To prepare this dish all we need to do is
- Melt the butter in a pan
- To this pan add onions and garlic and cook in the butter for 2 to 3 minutes till the onions are slightly translucent
- add the chicken, cook for about 30 seconds, all while constantly stirring
- Add the curry and stir till the curry is evenly spread all over the chicken
- Add the mango chutney and the can of diced tomatoes to the pan and stir
- Cook this for about 10 to 15 minutes till the chicken is properly cooked, you can tell it is cooked if the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
- pour into a vessel and add a few garnishes and you have ready a wonderful dish
with the preparation time of 15 minutes and cooking time of 35 minutes this dish can be prepared in about 50 minutes. This dish can be served with not only roti but also with rice.

Delicious Cool Mango Sorbet

A super fancy looking desert extremely wonderful for dessert at a party or even just to cool down, all you require for this is 4 mangoes, 3/4th cup caster sugar, 1 and half cup water and 1 egg white and to make it you need to follow the following simple steps
- Peel mangoes removed seeds and put in blender until smooth mix
- Pour sugar in saucepan and boil without stirring for about 5-6 minutes and then leave to cool
- put mix in a stainless steel bowl, wrap the bowl with cling film and put in freezer, but remember to pull out and stir it ever half hour
- Now take the egg whites and beat them thoroughly with an electric whisk, then add these egg whites to the mango mix along with the sugar, wrap the bowl with cling film again
- Freeze this for about three hours
- Now take this mixture and put it in the food processor until it is completely blended
- Put this to freeze and once solid voila your dessert is ready
With 20 minutes of preparation time and 6 and a half hours of freezing time this dis is ready to serve and enjoy in just under 7 hours, long gone are the times of running to the store for ice cream and cakes for dessert now we have a new dessert.

Thus we see how much variety of food we can prepare from just one item from drinks to main course and then eventually dessert. Thus w”e see why mangoes are aptly known as the “King of fruits”, but did you know apart from being wonderfully delicious these fruits also provide with several health benefits such as
- Mangoes prevent cancer or rather their antioxidant compound does.
- Mangoes contain vitamin C and fiber which help lower cholesterol
- Clogged pores and eradication of pimples is another thing Mangoes help in
- 25% of required vitamin A can be provided by mangoes and thus they help improve eyesight and prevent night blindness
- Mangoes help reserve the alkali reserves of the body by providing citric, tartaric and malic acid
- They help prevent diabetes by keeping insulin in check
- Mangoes also contain enzymes that help break up food and are thus good for digestion
- Mangoes improve our general immune system
And thus we see how important mangoes are and with several recipes now we can definitely include consumption mangoes into our lives with ease serving them in various forms all while working towards a healthier tomorrow.
May 26, 2014
Breakfast, the right start of a day
Late for work and absolutely no time to waste, hurry to get ready and leave barely stopping for a cup of tea. This happens to almost all of us. In our busy lives we all often miss once of the most important things in hurry, that is our breakfast. The importance of breakfast of gravely undermined. It is often said one must eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. Breakfast is the first meal of the day. Between dinner and the breakfast of next day there a huge gap and after such a lengthy fast it is imperative to have a hearty breakfast. Nutritionists believe that breakfast must be consumed within two to three hours of waking up. Breakfast should fulfill roughly twenty to thirty five percent of your guideline daily allowance. A guideline daily allowance is the amount of daily calories, saturated fats, fats and salt allowed for a person. This amount changes from person to person however it is known fact that the allowance for men is higher than women and children. On an average the G.D.A for children is 1500 and 2000, for women it is 1800 to 2200 and for men it is 2200 to 2700 calories. This is obviously just an average and depending on height weight age it can differ. A healthy Breakfast has many advantages such as
- Breakfast provides the necessary nutrients to start off your day on bright note
- It helps improve your concentration
- Studies show that a good breakfast helps in maintaining a good body weight.
- People skipping breakfast often miss out on vital vitamins and minerals that they would’ve got from a simple meal
- You often feel hungry much before lunch if you have missed breakfast and then tend to eat foods high in sugar content which help gain weight
- It provides energy to keep you going through through out the day
- Breakfast can help prevent heart diseases, it also reduces chances of obesity which is a great issue today.
- A good breakfast can reduces chances of diabetes by twenty five to thirty percent.
- It improves your memory, people who don’t eat breakfast are more likely to perform poorly on memory tests
- If you don’t eat a healthy breakfast your body tends to look for high calorie high in fat because fat is easier to break and digest than other foods
And thus we see how vital a healthy breakfast is however, not just any food is okay, a breakfast must be healthy and nutritious. A good breakfast must include a balanced amount of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and also fats, yes good fats are important to be included in the meal. To have a correct meal we should divide our breakfast into three parts that are
1. Protein based portion, this part of the meal should be rich in protein as protein helps build and repair tissues and makes enzymes hormones and also muscles.
2. Starchy Carbohydrate foods which are important as carbohydrates improve healthy brain and nervous system
3. Fruits and vegetables, this is very important and as they prevent diseases and improve immune system.
Studies show that whole grain cereals make a good breakfast as they have several nutrients and fulfill the fiber requirement as well, adding a few cut fruits to the cereal helps make it a complete wonderful meal. A few healthy breakfast ideas are
- Fruit and cheese , this easy breakfast is both healthy and tasty, just toss and apple some cheddar and fiber filled wall nuts in a bowl aand enjoy
- Peanut butter waffles, who doesn’t love waffles and peanut better just adds to the charm and boosts both the protein and fiber content
- Plain doughnut with chocolate milk, plain doughnut has only 280 calories and is a better choice than any other bakery good and by replacing coffee with chocolate milk we are ensuring good health
- Fruit and vegetable smoothies, which are not only healthy but absolutely delicious
- Morning pizza, don’t be fooled by the name this delicious meal, too make it all you need is to take a slice of crusty bread spread a few table spoons of ricotta, low fat for all the weight conscious, and add a few sun dried tomatoes topped with some olive oil
- Egg and toast, whether scrambled or fried eggs are always a good choice to start out your mornings.
- Mini quiches, which have both egg and milk which are a good source of protein and a good dose of vegetables which provide necessary fiber and other nutrients.
Breakfast on a whole improves physiological behavior, it facilitates metabolism to burn fat more effectively and provides glucose. For children especially a good breakfast before school is important as it helps them concentrate and do better. Studies show that people who eat breakfast in the morning are ten times less likely to fall ill. Now after seeing the immense amount of benefits and easy to make meals there is absolutely no longer any excuse to miss breakfast. By just merely maintaining the good habit of regular breakfast we can pave way for a healthier tomorrow.
May 26, 2014
Drink Light, Drink Right
When the summer sun is up with a vengeance, there’s nothing like a cool, delicious drink to refresh you. But beware. Every time you reach for your favourite juice/soda/latte/shake, you may be ingesting more calories than you might be prepared to bargain for. So what do you do then? Would you put your weight loss plans on hold and gulp down a sugary drink and a guilty conscious? Or would you simply sigh and pass on that glass of sweet, chilled delight? Thankfully, there’s a way out of the dilemma. A little creativity can take you a long way. Put some thought into your ingredients, play around, and before you know it, you’ll have a healthy summer drink you can sip on with a smile.

Here’s a list to help you get started:
- Iced Tea: Give the sweetened iced tea that comes in cans and bottles a miss. Brew your own instead. Steep your favourite herbal tea and chill it. Once chilled to perfection, add mint, lemon, and honey, for an additional jolt of refreshing taste.
- Flavours and colours: Avoid all artificial/nature-identical flavouring substances and chemical colours. They contain added sugar and the chemicals present may pose a threat to your well-being. Add real fruits, such as oranges, lemons and limes, or even berries to your water for a more honest, healthier taste. If you like a pretty hue in your glass, try using 100% fruit puree.
- Fizzy drinks: Each can of your favourite soda not only contains high levels of sugar, but can also potentially dehydrate you. Add a hint of mint or ginger to sparkling water to create a healthier substitute.
- Added sugars: Added sugar means empty calories. Avoid adding sugar to your drinks. Use natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup instead.
- Cream or milk based beverages: These are loaded with fat, and often, lots of sugar. If you feel like something creamy, try making a smoothie or latte using almond milk or rice milk.
Here are a few simple recipes to help you make better-for-you beverages in a snap:

Fresh Ginger Beer

With a flavor similar to ginger ale, this ginger beer is a fizzy, non-alcoholic mixture of sparkling water, lime juice and fresh ginger. Ginger has been used as a home remedy for years to combat stomach aches and morning sickness. Studies also suggest that ginger may help reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis.

Requirements:

(Makes 8 servings)
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 4 teaspoons ground fresh ginger
- 1 ½ tbsp. honey
- 3 cups sparkling water
- Lime slices (optional)
Preparation:

Combine water, juice, and ginger in a blender; process until blended. Line a strainer with cheesecloth. Strain mixture over a pitcher; discard solids. Add honey to pitcher; stir until well mixed. Add sparkling water just before serving. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime slices, if desired.

Citrus Tea Punch

Tea itself offers significant health benefits because of its antioxidant compounds, but you can double the antioxidant benefits by stirring in some orange juice.

Requirements:

(Makes 12 servings)
- 6 cups water, divided
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 family-sized tea bags
- A 3-inch cinnamon stick
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup fresh lime juice, undiluted
- Ice
- Lemon slices (optional)
Preparation:

Combine 4 cups of water with honey in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add cloves, tea, and cinnamon; steep for 5 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve into a pitcher; discard the solids. Add the orance juice, lime juice, and the 2 remaining cups of water. Stir well. Chill. Serve over ice, and garnish with lemon slices, if desired.

Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Spanish for “fresh water”, Agua fresca is a refreshing, fruit-infused drink that is served throughout Mexico. Drinking a fruity water-based drink is a great way to stay hydrated in the summer while getting some extra vitamins and flavours.

Requirements:

(Makes 8 servings)
- 4 cups water
- 1 ½ tbsp. honey
- 6 cups hulled strawberries
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
Preparation:

Place strawberries in a blender and process until smooth. Add water, honey, and juice to the strawberry puree. Stir well.

Watermelon Cooler

Watermelon is a top source of lycopene, a compound that has been suggested to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Enjoy a glassful of health! And what’s more? It tastes amazing!

Requirements:

(Makes 6 servings)
- 8 cups chopped seedless watermelon
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Dash of salt
Preparation:

Place half of watermelon in a blender; process until smooth. Strain watermelon through a sieve into a pitcher; discard solids. Repeat procedure with the remaining watermelon. Stir in lime juice, sugar, 1/2 cup water, and dash of salt. Serve over ice.

Spicy Mango-Orange Slush

Kick up the flavor of this fruity frozen drink with a sprinkle of ground red pepper and a splash of lime juice. It’s healthy, too. Orange is an excellent anti-oxidant, while mangoes are a good source of fibre and contain enzymes that help with digestion.

Requirements:

(Makes 2 servings)
- 2 cups cubed peeled ripe mango, frozen
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- ½ cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 tsp. grated lime rind
- 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- A pinch of ground red pepper
Preparation:

Place all the ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Serve chilled.

Now that you know the tricks, drink your way to refreshing health this summer!
May 26, 2014
Festa Italiana: How to Eat Healthy at an Italian Restaurant

On days that you don’t feel like cooking, what do you do? For many of you, the likely answer is order a pizza. It’s true. The urban Indian audience has been fast developing a taste for Italian food. And it’s not just the promptly delivered, hassle-free pizzas that we go for either. For many of us today, bruschetta, pasta, and lasagna are standard choices when eating out. But what are the implications of an appetite for cheesy pizza, creamy pasta, and gooey lasagna for your heart and waistline? Obviously, adverse. So does that mean you have to give up on your favourite Italian restaurant in favour of your health? Or would you continue your liaison with Italian food, albeit with a guilty conscious? Thankfully, there’s an effective middle path. The two major variables in Italian food are pasta and sauce, and both have the power to steer you towards obesity and heart disease. That’s the bad news. The good news, though, is that they don’t have to. There are ways to make your experience of dining at an Italian restaurant easier on your conscience and your midsection.

Good things first, authentic Italian is arguably one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. What accounts for this win? The answer is its star ingredients: tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, and basil. Studies have shown that lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, may help prevent breast cancer. One of the best ways to get cancer-fighting lycopene into your system is by consuming cooked tomato products: half a cup of tomato sauce has more than 20 milligrams. Plus, garlic, and traditional Italian herbs and spices like oregano, parsley, and basil are great sources of vitamins A and C. Olive oil is known to help lower cholesterol, fight heart disease, and burn belly fat.

Notice how melted cheese isn’t on that list of power Italian staples? Italians typically use Parmesan or other hard cheeses instead, grated in small amounts for a big flavour boost. It’s the Americanised versions of Italian dishes that typically tend to be loaded with fat and calories. And it is here that you have to be careful. Here are a few guidelines on how to choose right from amongst your favourites when eating Italian.

Pasta:

Pasta is basically just dough made from durum wheat and water, extruded or stamped into various shapes and typically cooked in boiling water. It provides quick burning carbs and is lower on the calorie meter than traditional Indian staples like steamed rice. However, it’s not the pasta but the sauce that you need to be careful about. Sauces are the big players in Italian cuisine. As such, choosing your sauce carefully is crucial to your nutritional success. Marinara is a smooth basic tomato sauce that is virtually fat-free and delivers at least one serving of fruit in the form of antioxidant-packed tomatoes. Go for Arrabiata if you like your food spicy. It is basically the same as Marinara, but with red pepper flakes that give you an instant burn. Pesto is high on fat content, but most of that is healthy monounsaturated fat from olive oil. Besides, the addition of basil and garlic adds a concentrated punch of cancer-fighting compounds. Butter and Parmesan offers just fat from the sauce and quick-burning carbs from the pasta. Alfredo is the same as Butter and Parmesan, but with the addition of heavy cream. If you are looking for something heart-healthy and light, this is not the sauce for you.

Pizza:

Pizzas are family farourites. But a careless order can turn your pizza into a fat-loaded nutritional disaster. Opt for whole-wheat thin crusts instead of cheese-filled or deep dish ones. Veggie toppings are a good call. Think tomatoes, artichokes, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, onions, garlic, and peppers. Skip the pepperoni, meatballs, and sausages – they add more calories than you might be prepared to bargain for. If you want meat on your pizza, go for chicken chunks. Avoid extra cheese. You could even ask for lesser cheese or no cheese at all and simply sprinkle a spoonful of Parmesan on top for flavour.

Lasagna:

While the traditional recipe can be effectively altered at home to cut the calorie content, the restaurant versions are so loaded with fat that it is all but impossible to order a lasagna without dealing a heavy nutritional blow to your body. If you frequent Italian restaurants, it is probably a good idea to give this comfort food a miss.

Bruschetta:

Love bruschettas? This Italian version of chips and salsa has much more going for it than the bottomless baskets of fried tortillas. A full order will run about 600 calories — perfect for a table of four. Opt for the mussels. Low in fat and packed with protein, they make a good start to your meal.

Penne alla Vodka:

Here’s a tricky one. The alcohol gets cooked off, but before it goes it helps extract flavours that would otherwise remain hidden in the tomatoes. However, the caliber of the sauce depends entirely on what’s used in the house recipe. Ask your server if your dish is closer in color to the red of tomato soup or the washed-out pink of white zinfandel wine. If it’s the latter, look elsewhere.

Chicken Marsala:

Made with chicken cutlets, mushrooms, and Marsala wine, this preparation has all the potential for being full of health if the original recipe is followed. However, more often than not, in restaurants chefs get carried away with the prosciutto and oil and this simple staple may pack in a whopping 900 calories or more.

Cannoli

This authentic Sicilian dessert consists of pastry dough stuffed with sweetened ricotta, a cheese that shares much in common nutritionally with cottage cheese. As long as the portion size is reasonable, cannoli is any day preferable over a 700-calorie slice of tiramisu. To keep it around 200 calories, look for a piece about 4 inches long. If served two to a plate, share them.

Gelato:

The Italian ice cream is made with milk instead of heavy cream. Although that doesn’t make it a zero-impact food, but it is undoubtedly a massive step above Haagen-Dazs.

Now that you have the facts, tips, and tricks down, head out to your favourite Italian restaurant with confidence and enjoy a guilt-free Italian feast!

May 26, 2014
Doctor At Home – Kitchen To The Rescue

Not everybody is fortunate enough to be in a doctor’s family. So what? Each one of you can be a doctor at your home. Well, the kind of doctor I am talking about doesn’t need a medical degree, he/she just needs a kitchen with some of the regular stuff a typical kitchen should have. And having kitchen in your house, is not that big a deal (for those who don’t have it !!)..

Your body can throw you for a loop anytime in your life. The day you have an important presentation to give, you might end up having a sore throat. The delicious sea- food salad you got from an amazing eatery can leave you with a grumbling indigestion. Or , you might overdo it at the gym and may arrive with a stiff neck. You won’t have your doctor or therapist to attend to aches and pains all the time, at your disposal.Here’s the next best thing : all natural, expert recommended ways to treat your ailments quickly, safely and effectively at home.

So, here is a list of surprisingly effective kitchen stuff, which has a totally different use than just satisfying your taste buds.

Nausea

For nausea, frozen ginger chips are a boon. You should first infuse fresh ginger in hot water and then strain and freeze the concoction in ice cube trays. Crush the cubes after a while and suck the icy chips to provide your tummy with a smooth dribble.

Sore Throat

Fresh garlic juice has anti-microbial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. Mix 6 pressed garlic cloves into a glass of warm water and gargle with the solution. Follow this for 3 days. Warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue.

Cough

Have a square or two of dark chocolate. Chocolate has a compound theobromine which is much more effective than codeine at suppressing coughs that are persistent without exhibiting any side effects like drowsiness and constipation.

Fever

Sipping linden flower tea stimulates the brain to control your temperature, and induces sweating. So add 1 tsp of this dried herb in a cup of water for 15 minutes, and sip it. Drinking this tea 3-4 times a day is really effective.

Burns

Applying aloe-vera gel to the burnt area is very soothing. This anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect the skin lying underneath, from air, as the exposed skin would otherwise irritate nerve endings.

Cold

Vitamin-C taken before the onset of cold shortens its duration and severity. So cut and squeeze half a lemon in a cup, add boiling water and honey to boost your immunity and to coat painful throat tissues. Sip this concoction 3-4 times a day.

Stained Teeth

Mix a pinch of stain- removing baking soda into a few freshly cut strawberries to make a paste. Apply this mixture to a soft- bristled toothpaste and brush your teeth with it every three to four months. The astringent malic acid in strawberries buffs coffee and red wine stains from the teeth.

Diarrhea

Having bananas cures diarrhea in a few hours. Also, tea made from pomegranate skin helps an upset stomach.

Food Poisoning

If you suspect food poisoning, couple a few pieces of burned toast with black tea. The tannic acid in tea and charcoal in the toast neutralizes the toxins and help you to recover quickly.

A Tough Workout

Drink a bottle of tart cherry juice to repair any damage caused by tiny tearing of tissues and swelling. Tart cherries have anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and has anti- inflammatory properties that help sore muscles recover.

See, it isn’t that tough to be your own doctor, is it? These things work miracles in the treatment of your everyday ailments. And if you don’t have them in your kitchen, then you should definitely clear some space in your refrigerator and kitchen shelves, as these things are pretty important for you.

May 26, 2014
5 Disasters To Ditch : A Step Towards A Healthy You
Most people think of their fridge as a nutritional safety zone, home to minimally- processed foods like fruits and veggies, milk, curd and condiments. But nutrition in the fridge is just confined to veggie box or main shelves. But look around inside the fridge, the door, the chill zone and the freezer, those small shelves, which, ironically, turn into the biggest attraction the moment you open the fridge. And they have the stuff that is the most dangerous. Candy bars, chocolates, mayonnaise, fizzy beverages etc. all these are nothing but calorie factories.

How to get rid of this stuff?

Well, the only way is to dispose them off, by tossing them into a trash can. But the problem here is, what and what not to dispose off. Every food item has a group of ingredients, and catchy captions, which make you think it is healthy, which is why you bought it in the first place. Now what, getting confused? Here’s a short and sweet list of the top 5 worst foods in that refrigerator of yours, and healthy alternatives to these sugar and fat bombs.
1. Worst Staple – White Bread : you may think a loaf of reliable white bread is a harmless vehicle. White bread is made up of refined flour, which is robbed of the protein, key nutrients and bran. Refined grains can be dangerous to your heart besides being lower in protein and fibre than whole wheat bread.
Quick Tip: whole wheat bread/multigrain bread/chapattis.
1. Worst Quick-Fix Side Dish – Frozen French Fries : If you think that having frozen fries and ‘smileys’ is a better alternative for having a healthy serving of potatoes, then you are gravely mistaken. Most frozen potato products are flash fried and contain a higher quantity of fat and salt contents than if you did it yourself. Also, they also help you pack on the pounds faster than you think. And out of all the available frozen fried foods, the worst culprit of weight gain are, ironically, the thinnest potato pieces – French fries..!! Eating one serving of French fries per day results in approximate 1.5 kg weight gain in 4 years. Many of these foods also contain as much as 1000 mg of sodium per serving (which is half your daily intake). No doubt, they are one of the main reasons for cardiovascular diseases all over the world
Quick Tip: make your own French fries. A much better option is to bake them by cutting them into small pieces , dipping them in olive oil, adding a pinch of salt, and keeping them in oven.
1. Worst Condiment – Mayonnaise : Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that mayonnaise is a common staple in fridges. But with 100 calories per tsp, this condiment can turn your typical sandwich into a calorie bomb, no matter how savory it is to your taste buds.
Quick Tip: Mustards are a great alternative to mayonnaise and add a whole new flavor to your snack, but if you really crave that creamy flavor and texture, pesto should be your pick.
1. Worst Spread And Cooking Fat – Butter: one tablespoon of butter contains 100 calories, 8g of saturated fat and 30 mg cholesterol, so it is not hard to see why this could be a diet danger if used too often. Using margarine in its place, isn’t better as well, because it contains cholesterol-raising trans fats. If you sauté your vegetables in butter, the flavor disappears even though you still get the calories.
Quick Tip: Olive oil. This is a healthy substituent to butter, because it contains heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fats that make it a better bet.
1. Worst Beverage – Fizzy Drinks: Your typical can of aerated drinks contains about 140 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar – not exactly what a thirst quencher should contain. And diet cola isn’t any better, because both of them have been linked to adult metabolic syndrome, which increases your odds for developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These are not suitable even for children and teenagers, as they are a big reason for childhood obesity.
Quick Tip: Water/fresh juice/ iced tea. They are healthier and have less sugar and more nutrition.

So, here were some of the worst foods in your fridge that could set you off track and healthy options to stock instead. Passing up these foods, and having the healthy ones instead, can help to prevent many lifestyle diseases like cardiovascular diseases, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Always remember if you don’t have it, you’re not going to eat it or use it, it is as simple as that.
May 26, 2014