And we all know that Health is 80% food and 20% exercise. In order to be healthy, is the foremost requirement. But at the same time, Food is our comfort, an experience, a fun for most of the foodies like me. And most tempting foods, not so healthy.
That is what I call Dilemma of a Foodie. Here is a video made by us to explain where we often lag behind, in spite all the pure intentions and then discuss a few steps that helped us in the past few weeks.
We are living in a weird time right now, aren’t we? I don’t think many of us have ever experienced something of this sort in our lifetimes.
All my adult life, I used to think that going viral is a good thing. Corona-virus (COVID-19) just ruined the metaphor.
Anonymous
The pandemic has not only posed a collective “Pause” on the planet, but changed drastically almost everything – the way we live, the way we work, the way we think. Things that were difficult to even imagine a month back, are a real time scenario today.
What this phase is teaching us?
While the public places are quiet, our homes are bustling with love and warmth. Parents are engaging their kids and protecting them from the weirdness in best possible ways. Friends and families are connecting over video calls to flush the negativity out. There is a distinct wave of fun and laughter over social media to lighten the spirits. Looking at this it seems, we as a humankind are learning a lot.
But the biggest lesson perhaps is, that our Health & Well-being is of paramount importance. The whole world has stopped together pertaining to the risk of this pandemic. In normal course too, our poor health can stop our world altogether. This is not a new invention; you must have seen such examples in your life earlier as well.
While “Staying at Home” is the noblest thing we can do for a greater good, there are several ways people are adopting to cope. And the best part is, we are still connected through internet and can uplift each other in these testing times, when panic is just a small side-effect.
Our passion for a healthy living
This gives us further motivation to pursue our passion, this endeavor at expressbywords – to pursue a healthful lifestyle for holistic well-being. That’s where all medical advice concludes. That is the best favor we can do to ourselves, lest we get into never ending cycles of prescriptions and treatments. That’s the only way to live our best lives, till we are alive.
Well! we could have done this quietly too, in isolation, as we were practicing till now. This journey gained pace during my first pregnancy. We just took our doctor’s advice of adopting a healthful lifestyle, a little too seriously. Like all other parents, we were concerned for the well-being of our unborn child and didn’t want to give him/her anything less than the best. So throughout, we maintained an active lifestyle, went for regular checkups, improved upon our eating habits and other lifestyle choices too.
But once our daughter was born, we realized it should not be just a 9-month affair, it should be a way of life instead. Ever since, we kept on learning various ways and means of focusing on our holistic well-being, especially while combating the challenges of a fast paced life, being working parents with full time demanding jobs and a nuclear family.
So we decided to share this journey, to talk and practice more of it. We realized that this world needs collective efforts. My heart aches to see young people putting their health at a back burner in order to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
But things are getting better now. We personally know many friends who are pursuing fitness very religiously. There are many who keep sharing their innovative healthy recipes; many who leave no table unturned to ignite the positivity around. In a survey by Quartz India, it came out that nearly 48% Indians aspired for a healthy lifestyle over other aspirations.
This inclination will definitely have a knock off effect on their personal happiness and even productivity. The one message that we want to communicate is that health is much more than a fad. It is more than a diet plan or a workout or a magic pill to be your best self overnight.
It is a lifestyle that should be approached holistically – not only weight loss or digestive issues, not only hormonal imbalances or stress management. It should cater to all dimensions, beyond the numbers, beyond the body image. We all know what’s right. But to bring those real lasting changes, we need discipline and motivation. And it will be easier, if we pursue that together.
Besides being a delight to our taste buds, food is one of the major elements having direct impact on our health. Especially when any season is at its peak, the food intake largely determines how strongly our body may fight the extremities of weather. That’s why our traditional Indian meals like makai ki roti and Sarson ka saag are such great foods for winters. Not only this combination is extremely delectable, but it gives warmth to our body and boosts its immunity with all the antioxidants and nutrients in it.
But we love variety and innovation. In no case, food lovers can thrive on only a few tried and tested combinations throughout the season. That’s why this exploration for various combinations of winter foods, so that a trade off can be maintained between taste and health.
And what we learnt about a few wonder foods is as follows:
Garlic – The herbal “wonder drug” is known for its benefits against cancer, heart diseases etc. and due to its warm tassir, one can consume it in winters adequately. So whether it is soups, vegetables, lentils or pastas, garlic bread, you can include garlic into almost anything.
Spinach – Due to the antioxidants, vitamin A, C & K found in the greens, they act as anti-ageing and anti-cancer agents. So be innovative and include them into your daily meals as salads, soups, gravies, paranthas, sandwiches.
Proteins – Proteins help our body to repair, regain and refuel itself. This can be consumed from various lentils, sprouts, soyabeans, cheese, yogurt etc. This is specially for those who are looking for vegetarian sources of proteins, like us.
Soups – What can be more scrumptious meal than a hot soup in chilling cold. Add some carbohydrates and proteins in them, with pulses or toasted bread, and they become a complete meal as well. Adding seasonal vegetables boosts your soup’s vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content which helps ward off winter colds. With wise choices, soup can also help lower the risks of cancer and heart disease.
Millets – The extra fibre within these carbohydrates helps keep you warm. So one can have makai, bajra and jowar roti for variety.
Tomatoes – Tomatoes are a wonderful food that have been proven to help prevent cancer, heart disease cataracts and many others. And who doesn’t like the tangy tomatoes in salads, gravies, sauces and even soups. So go ahead.
Mushrooms – Besides imparting flavor to the food, mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. It is also a rich source of other mineral that have cardio protective properties and cut the risk of prostate cancer. Personally, I don’t like them but with time, have included them into our meals as mushroom matar, pasta sauces etc.
Fennel (Saunf) – A wonder food that works really well for the stomach and digestion. So add into your meals or just eat a tablespoon after meals, as a mouth freshener.
Cinnamon (Dalchini) – It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which help fight colds, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea, and painful menstrual periods. It’s also believed to improve energy, vitality, and circulation. Can be added to masala tea, gravies or just have a little bit of cinnamon powder with honey.
Honey – Well! that’s the most valuable food. An energy booster, immunity builder and most effective when you have a cough or cold. Above all, it’s a perfect substitute to refined sugar. A fresh lime juice with honey and warm water also works wonders for detox; try having it as a first drink in the morning and see the difference.
Apart from the above, just ensure you drink plenty of water. Winters don’t make us feel thirsty and hence it’s easier to get low on hydration.
Are you also the one looking for variety and innovation in your kitchen? Do you also strive to strike a balance between nutritious and delicious? Well! let’s do that together now.
I am going to use these foods to experiment various fusions and combinations. You too look for some. Would love to hear from you.
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