4.29.2009

Healthy food guidelines - help!

How can I eat healthy? And hopefully without harming the environment much? I have asked myself this over the last couple of weeks and I need help! Please take a look at the points i have thought of so far and help me with improving and adding to this list.

I am trying to make a lifestyle change towards a healthier more active life.

1. Whole grains
Roti and Rice are standard at my home and I have already switched to brown rice,
Roti Atta is naturally whole grain. White bread is a loophole i am working on(Ive tried Pepperidge farm whole grain , multi grain etc but is expensive for me and Iam dissatisfied with its taste)- it is useful for my toddler daughter. What can i do about the white idli & dosa batter? Is Rava (cream of wheat) healthy? White poha - is there a whole grain replacement?

I have banned All purpose flour from my day to day use- so I donot make Naan or parotta or Puris anymore. I have to look at whole wheat naans, tortillas and pav.

2. Soy products
The only soy product i use regularly is soy flour in my Rotis. I am working on including more tofu, tempeh and other soy products in my diet.

3. Vegetables
I love all vegetables (ok ok except karela :P) and as such include quite a variety in my diet mainly as cooked sabzis. I have to work on including more raw vegetables/ salads. Is raw better than cooked or pickled veggies? Is that on some sort of sliding scale?

4. Snacks
This for me is a big big problem. I need easy healthy snacks for husband and I as we both snack quite a bit. And i think i need a spreadsheet of sorts - sure i make baked french fries but is it healthier than normal french fries and by how much? We have also switched to salsa and chips instead of the deep fried samosas and mixture and ribbon - but it is hard to come up with variety .


6. Casual everyday baking with less fats , more whole grains

I make banana bread on a weekly basis, and i would love to make some healthy brownies or whole grain or tofu included small coffee cakes - But i know nothing of such healthy baking.

7. Fats
I use canola oil for day to day cooking, olive oil sometimes in sabzis and no shortening or dalda.

What am I missing? I keep thinking that having a food philosophy like Ayurveda might help but I donot know how.

6 comments:

FH said...

We love seven grain bread. For Idli and dosa, I have used brown rice, tastes good, may not be look good. For Poha, you can add nuts and veggies.Rava is like atta but coarser. Tortillas are full of lard, may be fat free kind, with Spinach added would be fine.Raw is always better, stir fries are yummy too.
Ready made french fires are already half fried, we just bake them ti crisp, you can see the oil when baked. You can use baked Russet alu and top with veg beans chilli.
Avocado salsa is healthy, make Spanish Gazpacho too. Go Vegan baking, (not that I tried) less fat and good for you.
Canola is fine, Olive oil is nt usually for high heat, good for dip (extra virgin kind)with whole wheat bread.
I do have a Ayurveda book with the usual Indian recipes. You can buy it in Amazon.Vegan vegetarian or low fat veg cookbook might help you a lot.

PHEW!!:D

Anonymous said...

About dosa batter, I find that brown rice works beautifully as a substitute for white rice. There is no compromise on taste- in fact, I find that dosas have a deeper flavor with brown rice.

Whole soybeans (endamame) are a wonderful source of "whole soy" protein and I love tossing these in pulaos and subzis in place of frozen peas.

For everyday baking, whole wheat pastry flour works very well. I use that and ground almonds to replace much of the all-purpose flour in everyday baking.

Anonymous said...

I find a handful of almonds a filling and nutritious snack. Veggies + hummus make for a tasty snack too.

Mamatha

Anonymous said...

Hi, Just found your blog, it is lovely. what I like about your blog is your book reviews on various topics.

sustainable food should be sought, india is becoming more like western county and losing its own diversity.

about healthy choices, I would say eat anything you like (for me vegan) but in moderation, that is the key.

jh said...

These all look really good! I would, however, suggest that you not go too overboard with soy as it can interfere with estrogen in the body and because it is a super polluted and engineered food crop. Other proteins--almonds, almond milk, etc. are good. Good luck and congrats for focusing on your health!

jen
Boda weight loss Blog

Anonymous said...

You can try out the soy protein powder fromt his website. I just add it to my atta, bfr making rotis

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