Beetroot Hummus

Who doesn’t love hummus? The texture and the richness of flavours. Oh and the versatility- which actually got me to add beetroots and create beetroot hummus.

Last weekend, while it was pouring I decided to sit at home (read: trying to live the slow life) and whip some healthy ingredients together, with some minor tweaks which were not so minor once I saw the outcome. I had beetroot in the fridge and decided the try a variation. I was very skeptical about the idea of these vastly different flavours coming together but then this pretty pink beauty turned out crazy stupid delicious.

6 seeds you need

If there’s a super quick way to up the nutritional value of a meal, it has to be with plant based healthy seeds.

These seeds are much like accessories that you add to an otherwise boring outfit, but much better as they not only take the beauty of the dish to another level- add colours and crunch but also increase the nutritional value of the meal. They are the new #MustHaves.

High on dietary fiber- think less time on the pot every morning!
Healthy fats- think shiny hair and good skin!

The benefits are never ending. And the best part? No cooking or extra effort required. Just sprinkle them and done. Can we please get done with the ‘cooking healthy food is time consuming’ excuse already?

Below are 6 types of seeds that have taken some pretty space in my kitchen:

1. Flax Seeds

They are one of the best dietary sources of soluble fiber. Loaded with lignans and fiber, they improve the digestive health; lower blood pressure and help in blood sugar regulation. The standout nutrient- Omega-3 fatty acids present in flax seeds help reduce inflammation also.

How to eat
1. Sprinkled them on salads, sandwiches, etc.
2. Munch on them. (Preferably post lunch- help curb the post-lunch sweet cravings)

Things to keep in mind:
– Ensure that you chew them properly and have some water after consuming them.
– If you are a fast eater- grind your flax seeds, otherwise they pass through the digestive tract as it is without benefiting the body.

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Did someone say Halloween? A great mood booster, pumpkin seeds help fight stress and the high levels of unsaturated fats keep your body functioning like a well-oiled machine.. They prevent kidney stone formation, improve insulin regulation and help prevent diabetic complications by decreasing oxidative stress.

They are loaded with Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Vitamin K, B Vitamins and Protein.

How to eat
1. Eat them on their own or sprinkle them on salads, smoothies, etc.
2. Use them for baking
3. Roast and lightly salt
4. Add to sautéed veggies and fruits
5. Grind with garlic, parsley or any other herb of your choice, olive oil, lemon juice

3. Chia Seeds

Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium and potassium, chia seeds not only offer amazing health benefits but also fill you up.

How to eat
1. Blend in smoothies, yogurts, etc.
2. Due to their property to expand in liquids, can also be used to make puddings.

4. Sweet Basil Seeds

Often confused with chia seeds and also called the Indian version of Chia seeds, because of their property to expand in water, Sweet Basil or Sabja seeds have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and help boost the fat burning metabolism. Also, full of fiber, they reduce body heat, relieve constipation and bloating and treat acidity and heartburn.

How to eat
1. Great as a garnish for drinks and desserts
2. Add them to lemonade or regular water

5. Sunflower seeds

Loaded with good fats and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, sunflower seeds promote heart health and avert inflammation. The high levels of vitamin E can improve recovery after exercise by reducing training-induced oxidative stress in the body. They are also rich in folate, a nutrient that’s vital for women. They are super-rich in fiber and keep you satiated for longer. They also add a lot of crunch to the dish.

How to eat
1. Sprinkle on your oatmeal
2. Eat them on their own as a mid meal
3. Add to curd, salads, etc.

6. Sesame seeds

Spotted them on burger and buns?

Sesame seeds deserve more than a random sprinkling. They are a good dairy-free source of calcium, which is essential for building stronger bones and ensuring healthy muscles function. They also contain copper, which is needed for numerous enzymatic reactions in the body. Black sesame seeds offer greater antioxidant power than the regular off-white kind. They also reduce the risk of migraines and PMS.

How to eat
1. Grandma’s good old til k laddu!
2. Can also be used for various stir fry dishes
3. Hummus

Things to keep in mind

1. Chew the seeds properly. They are super small in size and hence have the tendency to pass to the digestive tract without benefiting the body.
2. Toast the seeds only if the dish requires as they lose their anti-oxidizing properties.

There are infinite ways to get creative with the seeds.

Do write below how you get creative with the seeds in the comments section below.

Note: If you have an existing health problem, please consult a doctor before adding these to your diet.

Ready to be allured?

What’s life without a few indulgences every now and then?

When I talk about indulgence, I mean some real guilt-free indulgences that satisfy you, while at the same time leave you craving for more indulgence and taking you to a lovelier world of exclusivity. Though I am not a fan of Indian sweets, I am a sucker for desserts like cakes, pastries, tarts and much more. What if I tell you could indulge into all of this without gaining any weight?

Below are the top 5 patisseries in Delhi I can vouch for and promise that these indulgences will drive you crazy, just like the limited edition Maruti Suzuki DzireAllure.

No Bake Chocolate Oats Bar

I’m always on the lookout for healthy munchies that I can keep in my bag and carry to work. All thanks to hyperthyroidism which made me gain some 15 kgs in 3 months. Oh yeah! I suddenly started looking like a potato.

Instead of waking up to the smell of fresh coffee, I was forced to take a pill, which would leave me bloated for the rest of the day. But I’ve never been a fan of orders. I stopped taking all medicines after a month and joined the college gym. Soon I realized that wasn’t enough. Taking 4 eggs after my gyming season wasn’t really doing the job. I felt energy less, almost always. And since I was staying in a paying guest accommodation, I couldn’t use the kitchen for anything except for making tea. Oh, life! I started looking for healthy snacks which did nothing apart from leaving me broke.

#Foodventures- Sweet and Spicy Aam Panna

We all love mangoes, don’t we?

And now that the season of mangoes is almost here, I can’t stop dreaming about the delicious aam panna, mango chutney and mango shake. Mango as a fruit in itself is very wholesome. It lowers blood pressure, cleanses skin (IT DOES NOT CAUSE ACNE), alkalizes the whole body and has a lot of other health benefits. Need more reasons to love them?

High Protein Smoothie

Do you know what skipping breakfast does to your body? It makes you hangry! Hell yeah!

Hangry is hungry + angry. 🙂

Also, skipping breakfast makes you gain weight! THAT’S TRUE.

People who skip breakfast consume more calories than anyone else. And since they consume these calories in the later part of the day, when the metabolism slows down, the fat starts depositing. Hence, weight gain. And thousand other health problems of course!

For all those who skip breakfast, they key to change this habit is to start with simple recipes that don’t need a lot of work.

Handpicked by Select CityWalk

Handpicked by Select CityWalk

Keep your friends close and your farmers closer.

Fresh Vegetables!

I’m sure you know that by the time food reaches us, it loses most of its nutrients. Oh and the chemicals it is loaded with. Whatever happened to you are what you eat.

Gone are the days when people used to own farms, and grow fruits and vegetables. They were surely aware of what they were putting in their bodies but now we are more interested in learning about the latest “healthy foods” in the market, forgetting our roots.

Stand Up For Fit

Planning to go out for a dance night with her girlfriends, she realized that she doesn’t have the right bra. Oh but how does the bra matter anyway, I mean it’s not like she’s going to take off her clothes.And what about the dance floor? Forget it. She’ll sit in a corner and adjust the under-wire and deal with the quadraboob battle every few minutes.

She opened her bra drawer, only to realize that it’s just a bucket full of bad decisions.There’s this amazing bra that she bought on offer; it’s so pretty and it’s an A cup, I REPEAT, AN A CUP. She’s a C Cup!

And then she spotted a sexy bra that she intentionally bought two sizes smaller so that her cleavage would look noticeable; and then there’s this pretty one that stabs her in her armpits, and then another one, her favourite one that closes in the front, though it’s a little tight but she loves it because her boyfriend has a hard time figuring out how to open it.

Why you should have mithai today

Dieting is darkness and Diwali has lights written all over it!

It’s high time we stop obsessing over Diwali detox without understanding what goes into making the delicious laddoos and mithai. It’s time to teach your kid how to roll a laddoo and make it the new cool thing (again), instead of teaching him how to play games on a cellphone.

This festive season, what’s the plan? To pretend that you have an upset stomach or skip that party or to tell your friends that you have an upset stomach? WHO ARE YOU FOOLING?

If you keep looking at that piece of gulab jamun, thinking of ways to skip it, you and your body get disturbed. A disturbed and stressed body converts maximum food to fat. Now would you want that?

Health Benefits of Pickles

Remember that ceramic container covered with a cloth, loaded with oil and salt and kept in a particular corner of the kitchen that gets just the right amount of sunlight?