But what is Holi without its quintessential delights? Nothing we say! So, keeping that in mind but also the health of our amazing readers, here are our top 3 picks of Holi delicacies and how they can be made healthy!

Gujjiya:

source: fitfoodie

No Holi celebration is complete without at least the mention of the word “Gujjiyas” and within reason as well. The gujjiya happens to be, hands down, the star sweet of the festival of Holi. Gujjiya is essentially a native sweet to the state of Rajasthan.

These sweet dumplings are basically made with a combination of flour or maida and stuffed with a khoya and dry fruit mixture and sometimes coconut flakes are also added to this mix to make the taste stand out.

For health enthusiasts however, the gujjiya might not pass off as a healthy delight! So what do we recommend you change in the recipe, read ahead:

·        Use a combination of atta/whole wheat flour and suji/semolina to make the outer casing instead of maida

·        Stuff the casing with nuts, dry fruits, coconut and dates

·        Instead of deep frying the dumplings, bake them instead.

·        Substitute sugar syrup with thinned out pure honey and dip these baked goodies in them and enjoy!

Malpua:

Source: khanakhazana

A pancake like Indian dessert made on special occasions, the malpua is rich and absolutely succulent to indulge in! The original ingredients that go into a malpua are not essentially unhealthy as it consists of a batter made out of mashed bananas, coconut, cardamom, milk, flour & sugar syrup!

Good thing is, in this case as well, one can make the malpua considerably healthier! Substitution and elimination is the key. Check out our pointers here!

·        Similarly like you did for the gujjiya, substitute atta/whole wheat flour and suji/semolina for maida/flour

·        The combination of the banana, milk and coconut flakes works so one does not essentially need to be changed.

·        Instead of frying the malpua in ghee, make a batter out of the ingredients, sort of like a cake batter.

·        Bake this batter into a cake, and drizzle on a syrup made with gur or jaggery.

·        If you want to take the health quotient up a notch, then add ragi and oat flour to the mix as well.

Enjoy this delicious baked goodie!

Channa + Kachori:

Source: cooking4allseasons

Is there anyone here who can honestly say that they are not a fan of kachoris, because we literally do not know anyone that we have come across, not liking kachoris! Add to that deliciousness a plateful of tangy channa and we have a winner!

Channa is a comparatively healthy alternative but the quintessential recipe of a kachori calls for it to have maida and oil (for deep frying).

Here are a few healthier steps you can take to ensure that your kachori comes out absolutely delicious, without the fear of the added calories.

·        Switch to using whole wheat flour/atta, or even multi-grain flour to make the outer shell of the kachori.

·        After stuffing it with your basic stuffing of dal and spices, seal it inside the casing.

·        Now, instead of deep-frying the kachori, air-fry or even bake it and you have a much healthier alternative on your hands.

So which one of these delicacies do you think you will be giving a try to this healthy Holi season?

The post Holi Delicacies Made Healthy first appeared on Fit Foodies Mantra.

There is so much that you can get excited about in this year, and the superfoods that we are about to list happen to be one of those few reasons! So go ahead and go through our list of Superfood Trends to look out for in 2018, so you know what is going to prove useful and beneficial for your health! And if in case you are on the lookout for a few healthy and tasty recipes, then look no further, cause we have got you covered on that front too!

Cassava Flour

Cassava flour is usually used in traditional Balinese and South Asian cooking and has its fair share of health benefits too! The wonderfully soft powder is exceptionally brilliant for people who have a gluten allergy and is the closest alternative to wheat that you can ever come across.

Apart from being gluten free, it is vegan, paleo-friendly and nut-free too! It may not be the most nutrient rich food on the list, but since it does boast of being gluten free and has all the other properties, it can and does prove to be quite useful, and it really and truly does have an amazing flavour to it! You have to try it to believe it!

Moringa

Remember the time you were obsessed with adding matcha or spirulina to that smoothie of yours? Well, in 2018, moringa will officially sideline all those wonderful foods to become the best food that you can add to your smoothies to make them healthier and ever more nutrient rich.

Moringa is filled with Vitamin C, amino acids, calcium, and potassium! Even the smooth texture of this wonderful powder will make you fall in love with it! Derived from the Moringa tree that is a native to our country, Pakistan, and Nepal, Moringa, truly does prove its worth when consumed! Even though you might find that it can come off as a slightly bitter version of green tea, it is, in fact, caffeine free and also helps in stabilizing blood glucose levels! Really does get a huge thumbs up from us!

Water Melon Seeds

Watermelon seeds have been around for quite some time, but somehow, till now, their worth had not been recognized! Even though you might be tempted to have the seeds as is, their true nutrient rich face comes into play when they have been carefully sprouted and shelled! We know that this could be considered a hassle, but trust us, the benefits are so worth the effort!

If you can believe it, a single cup serving of these seeds contains 31 grams of protein, Vitamin B, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and magnesium too! The best part about these seeds, like almost every other seed, is that they are extremely versatile. From having them as is, or roasted to adding them to your parfaits and salads, the options on how to use these wonder foods are endless! Isn’t that great? A superfood that is not only healthy but also so versatile!

Don’t you think that now, it is high time you started to include these nutrient-rich superfoods in your diet to live a healthier and happier life? And if there is anything that you ever want to ask or have doubts about, you could always contact us, and we will help you in whatever way we can to make sure you stay healthy and fit!

The post 3 Superfood Trends to look out for in 2018! first appeared on Fit Foodies Mantra.

1. Green Tea:

We all know that green tea has some major health benefits when it comes to losing weight and maintaining a good metabolic rate, but did you know that it can also help you achieve a natural glow? Filled with anti-oxidants that are extremely beneficial for your skin, this one is essentially a portable facial in a cup!

2. Salmon

Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory. This proves to be extremely beneficial when it comes to maintaining a healthy and supple skin. Not only this, the dimethylaminoethanol that is also part and parcel of salmon helps in increasing the elasticity and strength of cell membranes.

3. Tomatoes: 

Tomatoes are great when it comes to giving your skin some well deserved toned and youthful look. Because of the phytochemical called Lycopene present in them, it ends up spiking the production of collagen in your body thus keeping your skin extremely soft and supple. Also the fact that tomatoes too contain anti-oxidants puts it on our list since it ends up serving a dual purpose of proving soft and supple along with healthy and glowing skin.

4.Turmeric:

We are sure that all of us remember our grandmothers and even our mothers using Turmeric (Haldi) as a beauty remedy. Turmeric has been one of the most preferred and sought after natural ingredient in a lot of beauty routines and treatments since forever. Having anti-inflammatory properties, this wonder product makes sure that your skin is protected from the damage that free radicals can subject it to. The nutritionist in West Delhi we were talking about earlier, agrees! Adding turmeric to your diet as well as to any natural facemasks that you make at home, will go a long way in giving you that natural glow you have always longed for. Just mix turmeric with yogurt and make a facemask out of it already!

5. Almonds:

Ever since we were kids, we have been drilled with one thing regarding almonds; that they make our minds sharper. But did you know that almonds are more versatile than that? You must have heard that Vitamin E is used extensively in a lot of expensive beauty treatments, and almonds are absolutely abundant with this little awe-inspiring ingredient. Vit E is responsible for cell regeneration, thus helping to heal wounds and even lightening scars and acne marks. The best part is that Vitamin E also helps in defending your skin against the damage caused by the sun’s rays! Did you know that you can even use almond oil on the skin? This essentially helps in lightening any under-eye dark circles that you might have and thus makes your skin look brighter and fresher.

So all the Brides-to-be out there, go ahead and indulge in these foods and let you man be wowed by what real and natural beauty truly looks like!

The post 5 Best Pre-wedding foods to achieve that Glow first appeared on Fit Foodies Mantra.

The Zone Diet was developed more than 30 years ago by Dr. Barry Sears. Can you imagine? This master plan has been around for 30 years! A known dietician in Central Delhi has done a lot of research, and recommends the diet boisterously!

The basic idea behind this brilliant diet is to reduce diet-induced inflammation. Diet-induced inflammation basically consists of factors that may promote inflammation. Some of these are

• Excess intake of saturated fats, omega-6 fatty acid, and excess calorie intake
• Lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and lack of intake of fermentable fiber and polyphenols both of which help promote gut health.

There are many benefits that you will experience when you decide to opt to follow the Zone Diet. Some of the main benefits are:

• Reduced risk of chronic diseases drastically
• Adds years to your life by slowing down the aging process
• Helps you knock off those extra kilos quicker than any other diet
• Helps in the overall physical and mental performance of your body.

But don’t think that we are writing about this because it is supposed to be a fad diet! The Zone Diet is anything but that! It is more of a lifestyle change than just a diet! The dietician in Central Delhi still gives credit to the diet for helping her manage a healthy lifestyle!

The main aim of the Zone Diet is to make sure that you have balanced meals throughout the day.

• A plate of your food should consist of a 1/3^rd portion of lean proteins like egg whites, lean beef or fish.
• A 2/3rd portion of your plate should contain healthy carbs like a lot of colorful vegetables and a little fruit. Do remember to avoid fruits that have a high level of sugar in them like bananas and grapes.
• Just add a dash of monounsaturated f, in turn, olive oil or almonds to your plate of food and you are done!

The Zone Diet helps in minimizing your grain and starch intake and maximizing the intake of fruits and vegetables. This, in turn, provides some major hormonal and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Did you know that The Zone is a real physiological state present in your body and can be easily measured in clinical tests? What it means is that if you are found to be “In the Zone”, then you have improved your ability to control diet-related inflammation. This inflammation is the main reason that makes you gain weight, age faster and becomes sick easily.

There are particular markers that helps you measure whether you have achieved being in the Zone. Just go through the chart you will understand what we are talking about.

Just remember you don’t need to follow a fad diet to help you stay healthy, all you need is a change in your lifestyle to ensure that you are the top of your health game throughout your life!

The post In the Zone with the Zone Diet first appeared on Fit Foodies Mantra.