Make your Diwali healthier

With the impending Diwali celebrations people tend to throw caution to the wind and falter on their dietary choices that could undo all their hard work of one year’s self control and work out. Any celebration would remain incomplete without the customary sweets and savouries, and in India it’s the – Mithai’s. Even a diehard fitness freak would find it difficult not to fall to the temptation. What one needs to watch out for is the sudden surge in the calorie count intake. The festival buzz continues and your calorie count rockets. By the time you are done with your Dussera, Diwali and Christmas celebrations, and step into another brand new year, you are already heavier by a few pounds, with the guilt written all over your face.

Ms. Pavithra N Raj, Dietician Executive, Columbia Asia Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore talks about some of the precautions you can take this festive season.

• In most of our Indian Sweets, Sugar is an integral ingredient without which the dish is incomplete. Indians in particular tend to have an affinity towards sweet, and our love for Indian sweets is boundless but instead of consuming an enormous amount of sugar, one could try alternatives made of Jaggery (Gur). You could try out sweets like Bengali Sandesh made from khajoor (dates) Gur and realise that it isn’t the sugar that makes your mouth-water or tickles your sweet tooth. Roasted chikki made of sesame/peanuts and Jaggery is delicious in taste and is not unhealthy at all.

• When you just cannot resist the temptation and are constantly thinking about the yummy laddoos and juicy jalebis, head towards the sugar-free section and pick some mouth-watering delicacies. Some stores add sweeteners like stevia, which is superb for health. It’s better to say no to those extra sweet mithai and switch to healthier options, after all, you don’t want a mini heart attack this festive season.

• You can even have dry fruits. Dry Fruit Laddoos are healthy, delicious and guilt free snacks. They are good not only for kids but also for adults. These healthy power packed snack does not have any unhealthy ingredients like sugar or preservatives or artificial food colours. The good thing is that they are so easy to prepare. Stock healthy snack like these at home instead of potato chips or cookies and keep them easily accessible to kids. Everyone should allow themselves a daily treat because there is no reason why a 100- or 200-calorie snack can’t fit into a healthy diet. But we should always be aware about our portion sizes, if we eat 2-3 sweets or Half a Bowl then it will only give 250-300 Calories.

• During this coming festive season, to maintain a good balance of total calorie intake, one could cut down on other carb. For eg, the wheat base from a vegetable wrap can be replaced by a lettuce leaf. Also, one should focus on snacking healthy. Small portions of nuts or seeds and fresh or dried fruit are make an apt healthy snack. Fill in your plate with extra salads and fruits and taking as much as liquid such as soups, milkshakes and fresh fruit juices.

• At last for this coming festive season few suggestions to maintain balance in our body are to replace Fruit toppings instead of icing, dark chocolate instead of  milk chocolate, sweets with fruits, and baking instead of frying.

Happy New Year 2016

Another exemplary and remarkable year has come to an end. I am humbled, grateful and thank God Almighty, family, friends and all those who were a part of it. It has been an incredible journey filled with both delights and disappointments. Troubles, challenges and difficulties made me a stronger person and taught me how to overcome barriers/obstacles in life. Success, achievement and accomplishment gave me unconfined happiness and will linger on motivating me in the years to come. Some of the memorable moments of 2015 are-

My School Magazine was finally published and released after months of dedicated hard work as the Chief Editor. Compliments on our impressive work made me proud. I bid adieu to my alma mater after spending 14 amazing and glorious years at Cottons. Being the Sesquicentennial Batch was a great privilege and I was extremely glad to be a part the 150th Graduation that was held in all its magnificent splendor. Attended my cousin’s marvelous wedding at Mysore. My 18th Birthday Celebrations was awesome and enjoyed the surprise by peers at tuitions.

All the pressure and tension of studies was finally relieved when I got excellent results in ISC board exams and was overjoyed on getting 90%. I was thrilled on getting my 2nd Apple Product- an iPhone 6 which I had always dreamed of and also my driving license. There was the stress of visiting various elite colleges in Bangalore for admissions, the excitement of IPL matches mitigating to the anxiety of clearing entrance tests, GD’s and Interviews and the joy of acing it.

I did one month Internship at Tramaniaa which was to promote the test match, invite school kids, manage and organize activities at KSCA.  It was fantastic spending time and exploring the Chinnaswamy stadium. I also got the chance to meet many Indian and South African cricket players and managed take selfies with some of them. I started this Food Blog in October and wrote reviews about various eateries. I also tried some exquisite and tantalizing dishes. I judged a brilliant event at Resurgence that is Bangalore’s biggest inter school Commerce fest held at Bishop Cottons.

I have had wonderful experiences during my first year of college- fun during 2 spectacular days of Dhwani- inter college cultural fest; organized a Product launch event on World Disability Day from E-Cell; Town Hall protest for human rights; participated in Language Mystery and icebreaker in Kalotsav, HR in Cipher and essay writing competition; Hall of Fame vs Shame exhibition; food fest; newsletter and e magazine committee; MC for hosting student council investiture; teaching school children in St Patrick school; spending time with kids at the Muslim orphanage through Rotaract Club and marching on Sports Day to recall a few.

Good Bye 2015 Welcome 2016. Wishing everyone has a phenomenal and prosperous year ahead filled with sweet memories to cherish. Hope you fulfil all your aspirations, dreams, goals and hopes. Farewell folks! See you next year. The Food Adventure will continue to bring greater stories of sumptuous delicacies and better and interesting restaurant reviews.

 

 

Merry Christmas Everybody

“Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! Oh what fun
it is to to eat and be jolly laughing all the way. Ha Ha Ha

You better watch out
You better not cry cause sumptuous food is coming this way that will make you shout with glee”

It is finally that moment of the year to celebrate with family and enjoy more sweets, cakes, chocolates, cookies and icecreams. It is the month of caring and sharing. There is a heavenly feeling and holidaying spirit in the air once again. Shops, malls and restaurants look marvellous. Christmas trees, flowers, gifts and lights are magnificent.

Have a blessed festival folks. Treat yourselves to everything nice. May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season. May Almighty God Shower you and your loved ones with his love, peace and joy.

Today’s main dishes for Christmas Lunch at Home included Mutton Biryani, Whole Stuffed Chicken and Keema Samosas. A perfect day to spread the happiness to relatives and neighbours as there is nothing more sincere than the passion for food.

  

 

 

EID Mubarak

Eid-Ul-Adha (Bakri-Eid) Mubarak to everyone. The major highlights or significance of this day is as follows-
1. This day marks the end of the Hajj Season in the holy city of Mecca. After facing all the hardships of the enervating and tedious pilgrimage, it is a time for feasting, celebrations and great food.
2. Following the legacy of Prophet Abraham who was ready to sacrifice his only son Isaac that he begot after a lot of prayers in his old age on God’s Command. On this very day, Satan’s efforts failed to dissuade Abraham and his wife from obeying Lord’s wishes. At the altar the knife did not harm his son but Angel Gabriel brought down a ram from the heaven which was slaughtered. This gesture was loved by the Almighty and has commanded everyone in the Quran who can afford to follow this action till the Day of Judgement and sacrifice a goat, sheep, camel or cow.
3. To spread the feeling of brotherhood and concern for the poor. It is today that anyone who knocks at our door will not go empty handed. Families, friends and relatives come together barring all differences and problems among-st themselves. The meat is distributed wholeheartedly to people who work for us, neighbors, down-trodden and people who cannot afford to buy such luxury food. It is about sharing what we eat almost everyday to others irrespective of status or cast.
4. To show and realize that we can sacrifice our belongings and lives itself for the love of God and endure any difficulties and challenges in this temporary world. It reminds us that we have to die one day and we should lead our lives in such an exemplary manner doing good deeds that we attain salvation hereafter.The animal is bought a few weeks before Eid and is fed and taken care of before being sacrificed. This is symbolic of sacrificing our evil desires and forfeiting things we are passionate about for our creator.

Generally, killing animals in Islam is only permissible for two main reasons either to be eaten or to eliminate their danger. Now For Everyone Who Want to Know What is Halal- It consists of using a well-sharpened knife to make a swift, deep incision that cuts the front of the throat at a particular point on the neck. This is done for two major reasons- 1. It cuts the nerves transmitting impulses to the brain without damaging the spinal cord so it does not suffer or feel any sort of pain.   2. All the dirty blood and toxic substances from the veins drains out completely cleansing the flesh and making the meat pure.

The Special Dishes prepared on this joyous festival are Mutton Biryani, Gurda-Kaleji fry, chops and sweets such as Sheer Khurma and vermicelli.

Happy Independence Day

As India celebrated its 69th year of independence from the British last week, it’s time to remember those who fought tirelessly for the freedom of the country and those who shaped its destiny in the subsequent years with their vision and wisdom.

68 years have been completed since India gained Independence, yet we are complacent of the rich Indian Heritage and Culture. In the words of Mark Twain- “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only”.

Most of us are completely dipped into Westernisation and very few remember India’s significance, its history, the sacrifice made by our Freedom Fighters and the difficulties faced by our forefathers during the British Rule.
In this modern era, every person desires to buy foreign cars, American fast food, Western Clothes, study in Europe and Work in USA. Why don’t we use our expertise, knowledge and skill in the betterment of our own nation and contribute to the development of Indian Industries, advancement of the economy and benefit the society in which we were brought up.

Let us all pledge today to ignite the Spirit of Patriotism within ourselves. We are all enraged by the atrocities and evils happening in the society and come out in large number to protest against this injustice but such heinous and horrendous crimes would not take place if we are patriotic towards our motherland and join hands to stop such acts by an inanimate number of anti-social elements.
During a cricket match, all people come together as a nation and cheer for their team but this patriotic spirit dies out after the fireworks and gives way to cast differences and religious tensions. Why dont we have this unity at all times? Remember all of us should be Indians first by heart, mind and soul irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion.

“Where the mind is without fear and the head held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.” – Rabindranath Tagore