Nutrients & more...

Deciding on the menu every day is no easy task. You don't believe me? Ask your mom. A lady who does it for her family every single day!  Recently my friend (a single mother with a full-time job), asked me for a few tips to save time in meal prep. Since our meals are Indian, I'm going to talk about simple North Indian meals, which can be put together as fast as possible.  Before we get down to specifics, we need some planning. Make time. Even 5 minutes will do! Sounds cliched, but it works. Take a little time every day to sort out the plan for the next day. If you can, make a weekly plan and be stress-free for the week. Sometimes, just knowing what needs to be done is enough.  Prepare a list before grocery shopping After deciding what you want to cook, go grocery shopping. You can also look into your pantry before making a meal plan for the week or the next day. Figure out the things that might expire and use them up.  pic Make extra for the next meal.  We know t...

pic Brain is one of the most important organs of the body ( professor Stephan Hawking is proof enough). It works 24/7. Yes, even when we are sleeping. Brain cells are called Neurons. They are the longest-living cells of the body. All our life, we are storing our learning, memories, and life skills etc. in these cells. Many researches have looked into the relation between food and brain function. It turns out that the damage to brain can be delayed or avoided by eating a diet high in flavonoids.  pic Flavonoids are plant based compounds or phytonutrients which are spread in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They are classified into 12 groups and 6 major ones have been found to be beneficial to us.  These are flavonols, flavones, flavanols, flavanones, isoflavones, and anthocyanidins.  These compounds provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effects. They:-  1) Increase the life of neurons  2) Reduce inflammation ca...

You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces, just good food from fresh ingredients.  — Julia Child. For many youngsters, eating/dining out has become a lifestyle choice. People don’t wait for special occasions to go out. The year 2020 has locked doors for many, but the food delivery services have blossomed.  Binging on Netflix and fast food/ takeaways came as the latest entertainment and eating trend.   While occasional indulgence is good to break the monotony; there are many reasons to go back to the basics. Here are a few of the multiple benefits of cooking at home: pic 1.      Easier life - Cooking is a life-skill. Make yourself, your spouse, and your kids aware of the importance of this skill. Plus, you can always use the additional help. pic 2.      Inclusive activity  - The Indian patriarchal society puts the onus on the lady of the house to cook (including meal planning, grocery shopping, cutting, g...

  Markets are flooded with so many trendy cookware currently that the consumer is spoiled for choice. But all that shines is not Gold. Here’s a reality check on the types of utensils available and the ones which are the best for your health.  1. Non-stick pans pic   Mostly having Teflon coating, this is an easy cookware to use and clean . Non-stick cookware requires little or no fat to lubricate the pots and pans, thus the food also is low in fat.   But unfortunately, I do not recommend excessive use of these utensils as the chemicals used to manufacture the non-stick coating can  cause  toxicity   and flu like  symptoms  abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation, cancer, elevated cholesterol and reduced immune system  response .  Though the industry has tried its best to change the coating, the substitute coating needs to be researched more to be deemed as safe. The new improved versions, should be used sparingly. Cooking...