Healthy meals for Indian households

Contrary to perception, there are several healthy Indian meals that can be made easily at home.

Healthy food may be an aberration or exception in most Indian households. However, it is possible to indulge in a healthy way with some innovative recipes. There are several recipes and meals that you can whip up at home and have a great time in the bargain! Also most of these dishes or food items are great to taste! This definitely makes them more acceptable and palatable when you are on a diet of sorts. Indian food is wrongfully labeled as only being spicy, rich, oily, creamy and fatty in nature. There is a lot more to Indian food than labels like these. Indian food is widely regarded as one of the healthiest options owing to the variety of potent spices used and different styles of cooking that help retain more nutrients and vitamins. If cooked properly, Indian meals can actually be wonderfully balanced diets with the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. There are several daily staples that are healthier than you know!

If you are on the lookout for healthy meals, you should consider easily accessible options like buttermilk. This is a daily staple in many homes and you should use low fat milk for the same. This will give you an energy boost as this is free from butter and all other resultant fat. Sambar dal is also pretty healthy and comes with legumes, chickpeas and multiple healthy spices. A single serving of this wonder will give you only 50 calories and a negligible 1.8 grams of fat in addition to 2.6 grams of carbohydrate and 15 grams of protein.

This can be stirred up pretty easily at home. If you’re looking for healthy snacks, you can always try the eternal favorite, Tandoori chicken. This is best marinated in yoghurt and seasoned using masala and other healthy spices. A single leg piece will give you only 13 grams of fat and 30.5 grams of protein.

Rajma is a super healthy recipe that you can dish up at home and this contains 120 calories and 5 grams of protein. This is a dish made of kidney beans in a gravy with healthy spices. This can be eaten with both rice and roti depending upon your preferences. Even Arhar dal and Hara Bhara Kabab are healthy options for periodic consumption. You can also use Nutralite for cooking or as a table spread which is a healthy alternative to butter and is free from cholesterol and hydrogenated fats.

Shivani Shetty is a leading nutrition and health expert. She offers insights into healthy recipes, dieting and the right ingredients.

Jenni Sands is a hospitality expert and advises visitors on Dubai's accommodation options and local culture.