28th Feb 2018
6 Unique Holi Traditions with delicious Weight Loss Recipes
Enjoy Unique Holi Traditions with Delicious Weight Loss Recipes and a Bit of Color!
&n
14 Aug 2015
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Independence Day is celebrated annually on 15 August, as a National Holiday in India commemorating the nation's independence from the British Empire on 15 August 1947. The Indian Flag is a combination of saffron, white & green with a blue chakra & wheel in between. Saffron on the flag symbolizes courage & sacrifice, white - peace & purity whereas green- faith & chivalry. The blue wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change. These days, it is quite common to come across restaurants serving food with a tricolor theme on special occasions, aiming to evoke a sense of patriotism & of course colors play an important role in stimulating appetite. In this blog, we will briefly explore a range of both nutritious & less healthy food options that embrace the tricolor theme.
ORANGE COLORED FOODS
Orange-colored foods contain a plethora of nutrients associated with orange-colored fruits & vegetables, which are beneficial to overall health. The abundance of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and phytonutrients in most of these foods is good for your skin, eyes & heart health.
| HEALTHY ORANGE COLORED FOODS | WHY SHOULD WE EAT THESE? |
|---|---|
| Sweet potato | Being part of the root family, they are high in beta-carotene, magnesium, fiber, potassium & iron. |
| Oranges | Oranges are considered to be superfoods for immunity. They have a wealth of nutrients including Vitamin C, Vitamin A precursors, Calcium, Potassium, & Pectin. |
| Mangoes | Mango is considered to be the king of all fruits as it is not only delicious but has plenty of Vitamin A & C. In addition to that, it is also a rich source of Vitamin B6, Probiotic Fiber, Copper, Potassium & Magnesium. |
| Papaya | Papaya is known to be a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber & antioxidants. It is considered a superfood for digestive health. |
| Pumpkin | Pumpkin is a rich source of Vitamin A, Fiber & Zinc |
| Carrots | Carrots are a good source of vitamin A, Vitamin C & antioxidants. |
| UNHEALTHY ORANGE FOODS | WHY SHOULD YOU AVOID THESE? |
|---|---|
| Processed cheese | Processed cheese is high in fats & also in Sodium. |
| Orange juice | Orange juice contains added sugars, preservatives & also lacks Fiber. |
| Powder Drink mixes | There are variety of powder drink mixes in the market & most of these contain added colors, preservatives & sugars. |
| Orange Carbonated Drinks | Orange flavored carbonated drinks are high in sugars & contain added colors. |
| Orange Candies & Popsicles | Candies are very high in sugars & contain added colors. |
WHITE-COLORED FOODS:
A wide variety of white-colored foods are available for consumption. Some are rich in processed form of carbohydrates, & low in fiber. Others are rich in anthoxanthins which can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. White foods are also known to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
| HEALTHY WHITE COLORED FOODS | WHY WE SHOULD CONSUME THESE? |
|---|---|
| Rice | The health benefits of rice include its ability to provide instant energy, improve bowel movements, & are also an essential source of vitamin B1 apart from being rich in Zinc & Magnesium |
| Cauliflower | It is an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 Choline, Dietary Fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, Manganese, Phosphorus, & Biotin. |
| Milk | It is a rich source of Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium & protein, nutrients which are essential for healthy bone growth & development |
| Yoghurt | It is known to be a good source of protein, In addition to that, it also contains nutrients like Calcium, Vitamin B-2, Vitamin B-12, Potassium, & Magnesium. |
| Tofu | Enriched with Iron, Calcium, & essential minerals such as Manganese, Selenium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc & Vitamin B1, tofu is a very nourishing food. It is also very rich in proteins & contains all the eight amino acids important for the body. |
| Mushrooms | A rich source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antibiotics & antioxidants. The health benefits of mushrooms include relief from high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, prostate cancer, & diabetes. It also known to help in weight loss, and increases the strength of the immune system |
| Radish | Radishes are rich in Ascorbic acid, Folic acid, & Potassium. They are also a good source of Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Copper, & Calcium. |
| Feta cheese | Feta cheese is rich in proteins & Calcium. In addition, it also contains Vitamin B12 & B6. |
| White Beans | White beans are known to be a rich source of protein and fiber. Several of its varieties are typically high in Potassium, Folate, Vitamins C & B6, Calcium, & Iron |
| UNHEALTHY WHITE COLORED FOODS | WHY WE SHOULD AVOID THESE? |
|---|---|
| Marshmallows | They are high in sugars. |
| White Chocolate | White chocolates are high in sugars i.e. 17grams of sugars per ounce so 60% of it is just sugar. This is an approximate value & it may differ from brand to brand. |
| Ice cream | Ice cream is known to be high in fats & sugars. |
| Instant Noodles | Instant noodles have substances such as dyes & preservatives.They are known to be high in calories, have a fairly high salt content & unhealthy saturated fats which can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome |
| Pasta | Pasta is made up of refined flour. Refined white flour in itself contains almost no dietary goodness in itself & its consumption can have negative effects on health. |
| Bread | White bread is made up of refined flour which has less fiber, & is low in B vitamins & antioxidants |
GREEN COLORED FOODS:
Green foods are packed with nutrients & are an extremely important part of our diet. Green foods are a great source of phytonutrients & also have great healing powers. The power of green can revitalize one's health as green foods are easy on glucose levels. Greens are very low in sugars as they're packed with fiber and water in fact they are known to help in regulating the blood sugar levels throughout the day.
| HEALTHY GREEN COLORED FOODS | WHY WE SHOULD EAT THESE? |
|---|---|
| Spinach | Spinach is an excellent source of Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folic acid, Manganese, Magnesium, Iron & Vitamin B2 |
| Okra | Besides being low in calories it is full of vitamins such as Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Folic acid, Riboflavin,& minerals Calcium, Zinc & Dietary Fiber |
| Broccoli | Broccoli offers high levels of Vitamin C, bone-strengthening Vitamin K, & Folate, which plays a strategic role in regulating cell growth & reproduction |
| Cucumber | Cucumbers are rich in Vitamin K, B Vitamins, Copper, Potassium, Vitamin C, & Manganese. |
| Green peas | Green peas are a great source of bone-building Vitamin K & Manganese. They are the significant store of Vitamin C that helps in supporting the immune system |
|
Avocados |
Avocados contain Vitamin E & Lutein. These are antioxidants that protects the body from free radicals. |
| Capsicum | They are a good source of Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Folate, & Vitamin K. |
| Green moong | Green moong dal is packed with proteins & is also a good source of iron. |
As such, apart from green candies/ popsicles or green-colored ice-creams, there are not too many unhealthy items in Green that need to be highlighted separately.
Here are a few healthy, tasty & colorful Indian Independence Day Recipes to try:
HEALTHY TRICOLOR PASTA SALAD:
This is a delicious & colorful pasta salad with a lot of veggies, making it a healthy snack. Read the full recipe here:
TRICOLOR SANDWICH MANIA:
Sandwiches are always a healthy option to curb your hunger pang. Try the innovative tricolor sandwich this Independence Day. Read the full recipe here
TRICOLOR JUICY PUNCH:
A refreshing & delicious freshly squeezed juice, packed with nutrients. Try this tricolor juice to celebrate this Independence Day. Read the full recipe here:
TRICOLOUR IDLI FUN:
Idlis are a famous breakfast not only in South India but also all over the world. Idlis are steamed, mild, savory & fluffy, they pair well with nearly any dish. Try this tricolor idli recipe to make breakfast even more interesting. Read the full recipe here:
TRICOLOR DHOKLA LOVE:
We all love Dhokla. Dhokla is easy to make, light on your stomach & it will surely fill you up & make your soul happy. Try our delicious & healthy tricolor dhokla. Read the full recipe here:
TIRANGA PULAV WONDER:
Pulav is remembered for its exotic aroma & flavor. It is easy to make at home & healthy. It is time to experiment with your pulao & give something new to your taste buds. Read the full recipe here:
TIRANGA HALWA CAKE:
We all know & love Halwa. Our festivals are incomplete without a touch of halwa. Apart from the mainstream variety of halwa (which might not be good for your health & weight), we have some healthy mix of halwa, which you can totally try this time. Read the full recipe here:
Try these healthy & colorful recipes this Independence!
