FOOD SPECIAL..The healthy sweet tooth

The healthy sweet tooth

EVEN THE MOST HEALTH-CONSCIOUS PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INDULGE A LITTLE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. TIME ’N STYLE BEAUTY HELPS YOU WITH A CHEAT SHEET FULL OF TIPS AND TRICKS

    Stick to your guns
“It’s most important to stick to a regimen by forming healthy habits. If you decide to eat a salad with each meal, do it everyday. You will automatically want to have it during days of festivities as well,” says nutritionist Naini Setalvad. If you feel pressed for time, then the first thing you tend to do is give up on your exercise routine. “Remember that you’re going to eat out, and you will inadvertently eat oily or sugary food. Therefore, it’s important to stick to your regular lifestyle than skip anything,” she adds.
    Low-cal, anyone?
The most crucial part of any celebration are the mithais, it seems. Of course, sugar is required by the body, but you can find healthier options without depriving yourself of either merriment or health. “White sugar can be substituted by mineral and vitamin-rich organic jaggery, or even dry fruits like figs, dates, prunes and raisins,” says Setalvad. Most sweets we eat are sugar-laden and combined with fat and cream. “Ice-creams can be easily substituted with mishti doi, made from jaggery and curd and sandesh made from cottage cheese and fruits (no sugar added). You could also opt for fruit yoghurts and mithais made from dates, walnuts and other nuts,” explains Setalvad. Jaggery rasgullas are better than fried gulab jamuns and karanjias. The options are endless if you take the time and effort to make the right choices.
    Making allowances
There is no need to stop yourself from enjoying a samosa, vada or two. “Always remember that you can bake anything you can fry. Frankie rolls are a very good substitute for samosas. Chakris, puris and kachoris can be baked. Savoury favourites like patras, muthias, dhoklas and idlis can be steamed,” says Setalvad. Vegetables can be added to any of these dishes to increase their nutritional value.
    Festivities are incomplete without the quintessential platter of assorted nuts and dry fruits, but the good news is that they’re healthy too. For an interesting twist, opt for masala nuts. These foods are filling and will prevent you from binging on fried foods. Fruit in various forms is always a great option to serve your guests. — E x p e r t i n p u t s b y Naini Setalvad, N u t r i t i o n i s t ROSE AND PISTACHIO SHRIKHAND LABNEH BALLS
( T i m e : 1 0 m i n u t e s + 2 4 h o u r s h a n g i n g t i m e f o r t h e y o g h u r t ) This dish is a take on the Middle Eastern l a b n e h balls, which are traditionally savoury. The process of making them is very much like our Indian yoghurt cheese or s h r i k h a n d.
Ingredients
1/2 cup pistachios, flaked 1/3 cup rosebud tea or dried rose petals 1/2 tsp toasted fennel seeds, crushed coarsely 1/2 tsp cardamom, crushed coarsely 2 kg yoghurt 1/3 cup honey Extra honey (for topping)
Method
Place a thin, clean muslin cloth over an empty bowl and spoon yoghurt mixture into it. Tie the corners of the cloth into a bundle and suspend it from a stationary object over a bowl (to hold the excess liquid). Allow this bundle to hang for about two-four hours. Then, place the yoghurt in the bundle, put it in a strainer and leave it in the fridge overnight. What you’ll have the next day is labneh. Transfer this to a bowl and stir in half the pistachios and rose petals and all the cardamom and fennel. Combine the remaining pistachios and rose petals in a saucer and flatten into a thin layer. Remove yoghurt from refrigerator (take about one tablespoon at a time) and shape into smooth balls. Roll in the pistachio and rose mix, and arrange on a tray as you finish. Drizzle with honey and keep it back in the fridge. Chill until firm and ready for consumption. They can also be stored in the fridge in a sterile, airtight jar, covered with honey for up to a week.
— R e c i p e b y Rushina Ghildiyal, f o o d e x p e r t Take the time out to exercise. Whether it’s a simple walk, swim, yoga, cycling or even dancing, do something.
Keep in mind that even the little bit of food you consume throughout the day adds up to calories. So, even when you’re cooking, avoid eating small bites of food. A piece of mithai each time you meet someone might not seem like much, but it adds up to a lot.

By Alisha Fernandes TOI121213