Spicyandhra

I don’t know a lot about others but Winter in UK is so depressing at least to me and I tend to put on a lot a weight , I try to make up some time after work to go for regular walks and swimming but still unable to maintain a healthy diet. So I want to kick-start a health plan and see how it’s working for me
I feel at the end of the day I atleast gave it a go rather then depending on silly slimming programmes and slimming food.
Hope u all will join me!! I actually find it easy if u are doing it together with friends who can advice or suggest and help u.

MY TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LIVING:

1. Drink lots of water, atleast 1 litre a day.
I actually found very hard to start my day with glasses and glasses of water but gals u do look so hydrated and radiant and u can notice in few weeks u know!

2. Never skip breakfast.
One thing I can’t get around in the morning is to have a nice breakfast. I never used to have time but now I make a point to have bowl of cereal before going to work and this actually made me stop binge eating at lunch time u know!! Most important thing is never shop when you’re hungry.

3. Keep healthy snacks to home (fresh and dried fruit, fat fruit yoghurts, )
Another mistake we all tend to do is, try to reach out for crisps or some chips whenever we are hungry so try to have salads handy and cut those chocs and crisps

4. Limit stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar.
I tend to drink tea as soon as I am stressed or bored at work, 5 cups- black tea with extra sugar!! Its tastes yak!!! But it keeps me going!! But I have to change that habit as well!!

5. Limit the number of times you eat out to once a week. Take your own packed lunch to work or choose soup in the canteen.
This is the most difficult bit but when u stick to fresh produce, u tend to realise in a while how rubbish ready meals taste so try to plan a week ahead what u will prepare which will make u stick to it and cook. Treat yourself once in a while

6. Take your time. Don’t cut out food groups all together, such as carbohydrates, in a bid to lose weight quickly as your body needs balance and please don’t do denial as you’ll only end up cracking or binge eating!!
I tend to have fixed menu on Sunday and go with accordingly!!! This will actually make u stick to u’r routine.

7. Only eat things you like the taste of - find what works for you and don’t force yourself to eat things just because they’re good for you.
I was in a dilemma last week when I bought broccoli soup for lunch to please myself and to think “oh yes!! My healthy diet” but believe me It was disgusting!!! So stick to simple, healthy meals and try what u like

8. And finally….Cooking should never be stressful and eating should always be a pleasure.

Ingredients:
Boiled potatoes: 6
Dried peas: soaked overnight and cooked in a pressure cooker.
Tomatoes: 2
Yoghurt: 1/2 cup
Onions: 1
Chillies: 2
Ginger garlic paste: 2tbsp
Poppy seeds and coconut paste: ½ cup.
Cashewnuts: broken into small pieces
Chilli powder: 1 tsp
Turmeric: 1 tsp
Bay leaves: 2
Cinnamon, cardamom and cloves : few each
Salt to taste

Fry Bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves in oil, add onions and chillies and fry until they are brown, now add cashewnuts, ginger garlic paste and sauté for few min.
Now add potato pieces, dried peas, tomatoes, chilli powder, turmeric and salt and fry for 2 min and then add coconut and poppy seeds paste and sauté for few more min and then add water and cook in medium heat.

When the oil starts oozing, switch it off and add the yoghurt, mix it and garnish with coriander.

Serve hot with chapathis, they taste heavenly!!!!!

Many of my North Indian friends didn’t know about these dosas until they tasted at our place and in an instant they have become a huge hit around here

Ingredients:
Moong dal: 2 cups
Chillies : 3 to 4
Jeera: tsp
Ginger: an inch

Soak moong dal overnight and grind it the next day with chillies, jeera and ginger.
My sis suggested to use sprouts which are quite healthy so this time, I soaked overnight and drainded the water out and left for couple of hrs and then grind it.

Upma:

Ingredients:

Semolina: 2 cups
Onion: 1 cut into small pieces
Chillies: 2
Curry leaves: 2 sprigs
Urid dal, chana dal, mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Fry urid dal, chana dal and mustard seeds in oil until mustard seeds start to splutter, add curryleaves, onion and chillies and fry for some time.
Add salt and 2 cups of water.
As soon as the water starts boiling, add semolina and keep on missing it in the water, if u don’t mix then u get lumps so make sure to mix through out.
Cook for few min and that’s it really, u’r tasty upma is ready.

Now take a tawa and when it is hot add a spoonful of batter and spread it around and put some upma in the middle and close from either sides when its brown.

Serve hot with coconut chutney, ginger and sambhar.
This was a hit this weekend when friends were around. Found time to actually take couple of pics before serving them.