Low
calorie cooking doesn’t mean eliminating everything from your daily diet but
eating food in a proportion incorporating the low calorie ingredients in
everyday cooking.
calorie cooking doesn’t mean eliminating everything from your daily diet but
eating food in a proportion incorporating the low calorie ingredients in
everyday cooking.
Most
of the ingredients you will easily find in all Indian kitchens .
of the ingredients you will easily find in all Indian kitchens .
1. Cinnamon: We know cinnamon as dalchini, and use it to add flavour to
Indian curries. But grind those cinnamon sticks, or better still just buy
ground cinnamon, and you’ve got a great natural sweetener for baking, teas and
snacks.
Indian curries. But grind those cinnamon sticks, or better still just buy
ground cinnamon, and you’ve got a great natural sweetener for baking, teas and
snacks.
2. Coriander: Loaded with vitamins and minerals, coriander is ever-present
in Indian kitchens. Use coriander to lightly flavour dishes after cooking,
without relying on greasy spices to do the job.
in Indian kitchens. Use coriander to lightly flavour dishes after cooking,
without relying on greasy spices to do the job.
3. Olive oil: Replace your ordinary vegetable oil with Olive oil and you
would already have taken the first step toward low calorie cooking. Olive oil
helps you keep the dish’s overall calorie count low.
would already have taken the first step toward low calorie cooking. Olive oil
helps you keep the dish’s overall calorie count low.
4.Whole wheat: Every Indian kitchen has this important
ingredient. The difference is in making its use more versatile. Use whole wheat
in dishes that call for refined flour or maida and your dish will be lower in
calories and higher in nutrient power.
ingredient. The difference is in making its use more versatile. Use whole wheat
in dishes that call for refined flour or maida and your dish will be lower in
calories and higher in nutrient power.
5.Honey: While honey is still a type of sugar, it is infinitely
healthier than white and powdered sugar. Lower the calorie count in each
dessert and sweet snack by using honey as a substitute for unhealthy sugar.
healthier than white and powdered sugar. Lower the calorie count in each
dessert and sweet snack by using honey as a substitute for unhealthy sugar.
6.Brown rice: This is an excellent alternative to fried cereal accompaniments,
white rice, and refined flour cereals (readymade dosas, idlis, etc). Not only
will your overall calorie count go down, brown rice will also add extra fiber
to your meals and help in better digestion
white rice, and refined flour cereals (readymade dosas, idlis, etc). Not only
will your overall calorie count go down, brown rice will also add extra fiber
to your meals and help in better digestion
7. Powdered spices: Cutting down on salt will also help cutting back
on unnecessary calories. Powdered spices help you do just that. Another plus
point lies in the fact that you no longer need to stir any whole spice in oil.
Just add vegetables or lean meat and add powdered spices on top.
on unnecessary calories. Powdered spices help you do just that. Another plus
point lies in the fact that you no longer need to stir any whole spice in oil.
Just add vegetables or lean meat and add powdered spices on top.
8.Yogurt: Yogurt or curd is an excellent addition to Indian curries.
And when it comes to keeping the calorie counts down, yogurt trumps even
low-fat cream.
And when it comes to keeping the calorie counts down, yogurt trumps even
low-fat cream.
9.Fresh fruits: Love fruit flavours and don’t want to spend your
calorie budgets on sugar-heavy preserves and canned syrups? How about trying
some fresh fruits? Use fresh peaches, pears, mangoes, plums, berries, and
oranges for healthy, low calorie desserts, and you’re building a great calorie
track record already.
calorie budgets on sugar-heavy preserves and canned syrups? How about trying
some fresh fruits? Use fresh peaches, pears, mangoes, plums, berries, and
oranges for healthy, low calorie desserts, and you’re building a great calorie
track record already.
10.Eggs: Every kitchen and diet must, at least, include egg
whites. If you’re a vegetarian, then replace this ingredient with some soy or
more, many more, greens. Use boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, whipped eggs, curried
eggs, omelets, for nutritious meals and low calorie additions. If you’re
paranoid about the egg yolks, then discard them and use the whites for their
thickening, and otherwise nutritious properties.
whites. If you’re a vegetarian, then replace this ingredient with some soy or
more, many more, greens. Use boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, whipped eggs, curried
eggs, omelets, for nutritious meals and low calorie additions. If you’re
paranoid about the egg yolks, then discard them and use the whites for their
thickening, and otherwise nutritious properties.
11.Fresh greens: All vegetables are great for low calorie cooking, but fresh
greens win hands down. They reduce bulk and therefore reduce calories. Add a
handful to every dish and you’ll feel yourself getting fuller on fewer calories.
greens win hands down. They reduce bulk and therefore reduce calories. Add a
handful to every dish and you’ll feel yourself getting fuller on fewer calories.
12.Fresh lean meat: Smoked and cured meat in cans and store-bought packages are
usually high in calories. Replace these with lean meat cuts. Invest in a steady
supply of chicken breast fillets, fish fillets, meat strips, and other such
options.
usually high in calories. Replace these with lean meat cuts. Invest in a steady
supply of chicken breast fillets, fish fillets, meat strips, and other such
options.
13.Oats: Not nearly used as much as it can, oats get the third degree
in Indian kitchens. We either use oats for tasteless healthy breakfasts or mix
with so much cream in desserts that their health benefits vaporize. Use oats
instead of refined flour in baking (with a little flour thrown in for the
needed gluten factor) and every dish will be lower in calories.
in Indian kitchens. We either use oats for tasteless healthy breakfasts or mix
with so much cream in desserts that their health benefits vaporize. Use oats
instead of refined flour in baking (with a little flour thrown in for the
needed gluten factor) and every dish will be lower in calories.
14.Ginger: When trying to cook low calorie dishes, potent spices that
pack a punch with flavour are your best friends. In this department, ginger
wins every time.
pack a punch with flavour are your best friends. In this department, ginger
wins every time.
15.Garlic: Another great spice that flavours your dishes without needing
much oil or salt to help infusion, garlic is a great addition for any low
calorie kitchen.
much oil or salt to help infusion, garlic is a great addition for any low
calorie kitchen.
16.Natural stock: Stock cubes for meat, poultry, fish or even vegetarian dishes
are usually high on calories because of preservatives. Dig out some stock
recipes and make your own instead! All you need is some boiling water,
flavouring agents like celery, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, bones,
shells, etc and your low calorie stock is ready.
are usually high on calories because of preservatives. Dig out some stock
recipes and make your own instead! All you need is some boiling water,
flavouring agents like celery, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, bones,
shells, etc and your low calorie stock is ready.
