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As a kid, my dinner time was a war of tantrums, tears and threats. The very look of veggies made me squeamish and tasteless oats were even worse – they made me cringe. But my close association with food during professional life made me think: Do healthy, natural foods deserve all the fuss? No, they don’t. Eating clean (fresh, natural, unprocessed foods and shunning saturated fat, refined sugar as well as salt) is not only nourishing but can be exciting too. It’s our misconceptions which make vegetables dull. Below, you’ll find the challenges which you often face while eating clean. Let me show you the best ways to turn clean eating super fun and delicious! |
Challenge #1 – The thought of boiled greens makes me shudder
WAY OUT: Oil them up (don’t go overboard though!), sauté them or bake the little babies with a dash of seasoning to pep them up. After all, veggies are best enjoyed when they are crisp-tender and a few minutes or baking or sautéing ensures just that. If you are brave enough to eat them raw, toss them up into a salad and enjoy the fresh, crunchy goodness.
Challenge #2 – Fresh salad without vinegar dressing? Impossible
WAY OUT: Not really. A simple dressing, comprising of one part fresh lemon juice to two parts olive oil, will make sure that you don’t miss the tartness of vinegar. You can also throw in slices of citrus fruits to jazz it up further. And if it gets too tangy for you, a splash of water is enough to tone it down.
Challenge #3 – I can’t think beyond fat-oozing mayo and cream when it comes to dip
WAY OUT: Swap your sour cream with Greek yogurt and stir in a dash of fresh herbs or spices to whip up a yummy low-fat dip. Hummus and natural applesauce without refined sweeteners also make a yummy combo with natural dippers.
Challenge #4 – Bye bye pizza
WAY OUT: It’s not yet time to bid goodbye to your Italian favorite. Smother a whole wheat pizza crust with tomato puree, scatter chunks of your favorite veggies and turkey pepperoni (it is low-fat, remember?) over it and finish it off with low-fat cheese on top. Your personalised ‘clean’ pizza is ready to be baked and served!
Challenge #5 – A ‘no-salt’ dish is such a disaster
WAY OUT: No, it isn’t. The refreshing subtle flavors of fresh herbs like basil, mint, oregano, parsley or marjoram spike up a dish while adding a healthy touch to it, thanks to the antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals in them. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin and turmeric can work wonders too and make even a salt-free dish downright charming.
Challenge #6 – Oh! I miss my desserts
WAY OUT: Why cry for those sugar-laden desserts when you can actually make their ‘clean’ version using fresh fruits and natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup? Baked fruits with granola topping or fresh strawberries dipped in dark chocolate ensure that your after-meal indulgences remain guilt free.
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