5 Immunity Boosting Indian Foods You Should Try

The New Year, 2021 is finally here and most of us would be probably planning to take up some new year resolutions. It is no surprise that the resolutions of so many people are related to eating smart and eating healthily. Eating less junk food and avoiding overeating are usually two of the most common food related resolutions. However, if you are planning to eat healthily, it is important to include immunity boosting Indian foods in your diet.

Including immunity boosting and healthy food in your daily diet will make you feel good, healthy, and it will make your immune system strong. This will in turn help you to stay away from diseases. So, you might be probably wondering what are the immunity boosting Indian foods that I can easily find. Here are a few immunity boosting food suggestions to help you get started.

Indian Gooseberry

Indian Gooseberry, which is popularly known as Amla is a superfood that is rich in healthy vitamins and nutrients. In fact, Amla is one of the richest Vitamin C sources. Vitamin C has the ability to boost immunity. The amount of Vitamin C in Amla is more than 20 times when compared to that of Orange.

Amla also helps in cleansing the colon, which will result in the removal of excess toxins from the body. In addition to that, Amla is quite effective when it comes to a number of skin related issues. So, it would be a good idea to include Amla in your diet.

Ghee

Many of you might be surprised to see Ghee in the list of immunity boosting Indian foods. This is mainly because there is a common misconception that clarified butter or Ghee is fattening. However, ghee is one of the healthiest Indian super foods available out there and it is something you should definitely include on your daily diet.

Ghee is packed with Omega 3 and Omega 9 fatty acids, Vitamin A, B, and C. It is also a healthy source of butyrate and healthy fat. Pure ghee that cow gives also generate both energy and heat in our body, which will keep you warm. Including ghee in your diet will also help your digestive health in many ways.

Whole-Grain

Whole-grain is another easily available and affordable Immunity boosting indian food. Most of us indulge in unhealthy foods and festive treats in the month of december and start putting on weight. These festive treats do not help you when it comes to providing nutrients in your body. This is where whole-grain comes into play.

Whole-grains like pearl millet, bajra, and maize are rich in iron, protein, fiber, and starch. As a result, whole-grains are capable of giving your immunity system a boost along with helping you lose weight and increase good cholesterol levels in your body.

Tulsi Leaves

Tulsi leaves offer plenty of health benefits. In fact, the health benefits of tulsi leaves have been vouched by both science and Ayurveda. The green tulsi leaves are available in most Indian households, but most people are not aware about the immunity boosting properties of tulsi leaves.

The expectorant, antitussive, and immunomodulatory properties of tulsi leaves will help in immunity boosting along with keeping your lungs clean. Having tea in the evening with Tulsi leaves or simply chewing them in the morning before having breakfast will surely keep you healthy.

Honey

Honey, the sweetening agent of nature, is rich in magnesium, calcium, and iron. Additionally, raw honey has a number of medicinal properties. For instance, the antibacterial properties of honey soothe our throat and it also protects us from fungi and bacteria. Including honey in your daily diet will also boost the immunity system.

If you are someone who loves to cook & eat sweet food items, it is best to replace the refined sugar with honey. Refined sugar doesn’t have any nutrients and is not healthy so it is best to replace it with honey. Mixing honey in water and drinking it daily will also aid in weight loss.

It may be quite difficult for you to include all these immunity boosting Indian foods in your diet when you are leading a busy life. Stil, you gotta find ways to eat healthy and eat smart. If you are wondering how to do that without cooking at home, take a look at our Smart Carbs plan, which has yummy but guilt-free meals that will help you eat healthily.

The Fascinating History Of Indian Christmas Cake

Christmas is just around the corner and we are pretty excited. It is that time of the year when we get to spend quality time with our friends and family members. We decorate houses with Christmas trees, and treat ourselves with wine, Christmas cake, and other tasty delights, & watch our favorite Christmas Classics with our near & dear ones.

Christmas cakes are one of the most important and integral parts of the festival celebration. It is hard to think of Christmas without yummy plum cakes. Even though most people in India celebrate Christmas and enjoy Christmas cakes, most of them are not aware of the fascinating history of Indian Christmas cakes.

The History Of Indian Christmas Cake

Christmas cakes do hold a special place in our hearts. We all look forward to cutting the cake with our family & friends and it is undoubtedly one of the best things about Christmas. Since, most of you are very fond of Christmas cakes, you would have probably wondered when was Christmas cake invented and who made the first Christmas cake .

The history of Christmas cakes can be traced back to the year 1880. Mambally Bapu was a businessman who used to ship bread, tea, and milk to the British troops stationed in Egypt. Upon returning to his home in Thalasseri in the Northern part of Kerala, Bapu decided to start a bakery on his own.

Bapu, who had just returned from Burma had become a master in the art of biscuit making. He wanted to make baked goods popular among the locals. There was only a bakery in the city at that time and they catered mainly to the British troops. However, Bapu soon set up a bakery, named it Royal Biscuit Factory, and started producing almost 40 different varieties of buns, breads, rusks, and biscuits.

What Is The Origin Of Christmas Cake

Three years later and a few days before Christmas, a British planter, Murdoch Brown walked into Bapu’s bakery with a plum cake. Murdoch had purchased the cake from England. Murdoch told Bapu to try the plum cake he brought and asked if he could bake a similar cake.

The baker was intrigued by the question, but he had no idea on how to bake a cake. Murdoch Brown decided to help the baker and he gave Bapu a ten minute demo on the basics of cake baking. Brown also handed over a few ingredients like dry fruits, raisins, dates, and cocoa to the baker. Finally, Brown also advised Bapu to use a French brandy while preparing the Christmas cake.

However, Bapu had already decided to try and experiment things in a different style. He collected spices from farms, procured mould, and decided to use a local brew instead of the brandy. He ended up selecting a local brew that was prepared with kadalipazham ( a type of banana) & cashew apple.

A year later, Bapu visited Brown with the cake that he had made. The British planter tried it and said that it was one of the best cakes that he ever had. In fact, Brown went on to order a dozen more cakes from Bapu. That is how Christmas cakes made their way into our country.

The Christmas cakes became quite popular among customers in a short span of time and Bapu’s business flourished. Thalassery still continues to be one of the prominent suppliers of Christmas cake even after 130 years. In fact, people from different parts of India, UAE, and US continue to place bulk orders from the bakeries in Thalassery even today.

Where To Find Delicious Christmas Cakes

Now that you have learned the rich and delicious history of Christmas cakes, you may be craving for one. Enjoying a thick slice of the yummy Christmas cake, along with a glass of wine, while watching your favorite Holiday movie, at the comfort of your home with your family & friends is what a happy Christmas looks like.

If you do not have time to bake a Christmas cake or if you do not know how, consider buying Christmas cakes online. You can get delicious homemade Christmas cakes delivered to your doorsteps with Masala Box. All you need to do is reach out to us, and we will take care of the rest.

10 Essentials For A Well-Stocked Kitchen Pantry

I am someone who loves to cook. Cooking my favorite food and enjoying it is something I look forward to after a stressful day. However, my excitement and motivation to cook a meal often goes away when I see an empty kitchen pantry. An empty kitchen pantry means there isn’t absolute anything for you to work with. So, I will need to run to the grocery store to buy items, which can be quite hard after a tiresome day.

So, I have started to stock my kitchen pantry with essential items for a while and it has really worked for me. When you have a pantry filled with essential items, you will be easily able to make a delicious meal with ease. That said, picking up the right items for the pantry can be quite challenging. So, to make things easier for you, here is a list of 10 essentials for a well-stocked kitchen pantry.

Spices

There is no denying that most Indian kitchen pantries contain an overwhelming number of spices. In fact, you will surely have several spices at your home even now. Spices like cumin, fennel, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks may be already available in your home. If not, you can easily purchase them from the local grocery store. You need to store and place the spices in a dark and cold place.

Fresh Vegetables

If you are a vegetarian or someone who loves veg dishes, there is a lot of Indian recipes you can try at your home. In that case, it would be an excellent idea to stock fresh vegetables in the pantry. You can include onions, potatoes, spinach, peas, tomatoes, and more vegetables in the pantry. The good part is that you will be able to prepare different veg dishes with these items.

Special Seasonings

Most of the currys and other dishes that you are preparing at your home are available as special seasonings in the market. If you are looking to make a quick meal, then these special seasonings will serve quite useful. You will be able to find and order Sambar Mix, Kadala Curry Mix, Theeyal Mix, & Pulinkari Mix online. These mixes will help you to easily prepare delicious currys.

Jams, Butter, & Canned Goods

Jarred and canned goods are a rich source of proteins and nutrients. Most Indian homes usually have canned goods like jams and butter in the pantry. A wide range of different jams, compote, and butter are available in the market. You will surely love to Seasonal Mixed Fruit Compote, Pineapple & Plum Compote , Herb Pepper Butter, & more available at Homemade Pantry. They are all yummy, preservative-free, and available online too.

Sauces

Homemade sauces are great and we all love to taste it. That said, preparing homemade sauces can be difficult if you are busy. This is why it is best to have some store-bought sauces in your pantry at all times. You can also include mayonnaise, ketchup, and marinades too.

Oil

Oil is another essential pantry item that you will need if you are looking forward to cooking delicious meals. You can buy any type of oil based on your personal preferences and use them for sauteing and frying.

Rice

If you are a South Indian, Rice would be something that you consume on a daily basis. If that’s the case, stocking your pantry with rice is an excellent idea. You will be able to make a wide range of different rice recipes with rice and just a few ingredients.

Flour

There are some people who don’t like to eat rice or rice recipes. This is why you need to store flour in your kitchen pantry. Bread is actually eaten as a substitute for rice in several parts of the country. With flour, you can easily prepare chapati, roti, naan, and more.

Salt & Sugar

Salt and sugar are essential pantry items and we cannot think of a kitchen pantry without these two items. You will need to use salt in almost every meal so make sure to add it to your pantry.

Packaged Goods

It feels good when you have something to eat at your home without going through the trouble of preparing anything. This is why I have stocked vellupperi, sharkara upperi, and other packaged goods in my pantry. So, If I ever get hungry, I always have something to snack on.

If you are wondering how to buy essential pantry items like jams, butters, compote, or spice mixes online, do not worry we have got you covered.

10 Varieties Of Indian Breads Everyone Should Try

The National Bread Day is celebrated on the 17th of November every year. Even though most of us include some type of bread in our daily diet, we do not know a lot about bread. For instance, it might surprise many of you when you learn that Egyptians used bread as a currency showing how important bread was for them. Another interesting piece of trivia about bread is that it doesn’t have any cultural boundaries and is used in several regional ceremonies.

Breads are an integral part of the Indian cuisine. Different types of breads are served with famous Indian dishes, especially curries. There is a wide range of different Indian breads out there. In fact, different states or regions in the country have different baking styles and use different ingredients.

From morning breakfast to dinner, Indian breads are prepared in our homes with great passion and love. So, on this National Bread Day, let us take a brief glimpse into different varieties of Indian breads. Here are some of the popular varieties of Indian bread that everyone should try at least one.

Plain Paratha

The pan-fried plain parathas are flaky and crispy. The Indian flatbread goes really well with most of the popular Indian dishes. The name Paratha actually comes from a combination of two words, parat and atta, which means cooked layered dough. Parathas are commonly stuffed with potatoes, paneer, cauliflower, and more.

Malabar Parotta

Malabar Parotta, also known as Kerala Porotta or Porotta is a popular south Indian flatbread that is prepared with maida. Porottas are served in most of the restaurants in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other South Indian states. Malabar Parotta can be eaten with a wide range of different dishes that include vegetable curries, chicken curry, & other non-veg meals.

Dosa

Most south Indians love Dosa. In fact, they can’t go a week without having either Dosa or Idli. Dosa is a deliciously crispy Indian bread variety that is commonly eaten for breakfast or simply as a snack. The most popular and widely loved type of Dosa would surely be Masala Dosa, a dosa rolled up with potato, spices, and onion mixture.

Chapati

As most of you are aware, Chapati is one of the most popular varieties of Indian bread in our country. In fact, people from all over the country eat chapati on a daily basis. Chapati is a delicious flatbread, which is pretty similar to an Indian roti. However, the former one is more soft and then & it is served with pickles, chutneys, and curries.

Idlis

Idli is a popular and widely loved south Indian bread that is commonly eaten for breakfast. Idlis are yummy, soft, and spongy discs that are prepared with rice flour and urad daal. It is made by steaming in a cooker, which is the main reason for the round shape of Idli. Idli is usually eaten with hot and spicy sambar or with a delicious chutney often made with coconut.

Idiyappam

Idiyappam is another Indian bread that is very common among South Indians. It is eaten as breakfast with either vegetable or non-vegetable curry. Idiyappam, which is also called noolputtu is often served with sugar, milk, and coconut in several parts of Kerala.

Naan

Here is another popular flatbread that is very common in most parts of India and has a chewy texture. Naan features a unique tear-drop shape and made with white flavour, salt, sugar, eggs, and yeast. Naan is usually served hot right from the kitchen and goes well with most Indian dishes.

Roti

Roti, the flat Indian bread that is prepared with wholemeal flour and cooked on a vessel called Tava. Several different versions of roti that includes chapathi, tandoori roti, roti canai, are part of the daily diet of several Indians. The name Roti actually stems from a Sanskrit word, which means bread.

Bhatura

Bhatura, the popular North Indian meal and can be considered as a slighter large version of Poori. The golden brown colored and deep-fried Indian bread can be served with chickpea curry, lassi, and plenty more.

Poori

The round and yummy deep-fried Indian bread, Poori is prepared with white flour. You can see that poori is usually served with bhaji with spiced potatoes for breakfast. It is an excellent combination and something you should definitely try.

Why Cut Down Sugar From Your Diet And How To Control Sugar Intake

World Diabetes Day was marked as an official United Nations Day approximately 15 years ago. Ever since then, World Diabetes Day is marked on the 14th of November every year, which also happens to be Sir. Frederick Banting’s birthday. Sir. Frederick Banting is a co-founder of insulin. So, during this World Diabetes Day, we would like to focus on the link between sugar intake and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes affects the ability of our body to regulate the glucose level in our blood. Several studies have found out that sugar intake will not directly lead to diabetes. However, consuming too much sugar will result in weight gain, which is actually a risk factor for diabetes. So, it is best to cut down sugar from your diet and switch to a healthy and balanced diet.

Why Cut Down Sugar From Your Diet

As mentioned earlier, sugar consumption will not directly result in Type 2 diabetes. That said, the overall intake of sugar is sure to increase chances of diabetes 2. Even though the link between Type 2 diabetes and sugar intake remains to be uncertain, the consumption of sugar will result in several other health-related risks.

For instance, several studies have revealed that consuming sugar excessively increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to that, eating sugar excessively may also result in chronic illness, hormone changes, and even cancer. The good news is that you will be able to avoid all these risks by cutting down sugar from your diet. Here are a few tips on how to cut down sugar from your daily diet.

Avoid Drinking Sodas

It might surprise some of you when you hear that there are approximately 19 spoons of sugar in most soft drinks. This is about three times more than the amount of sugar that is normal to consume in a single day. So, if you really wish to cut down sugar intake, you should consider avoiding sodas and soft drinks.

It would be best to replace soda and soft drinks that are high in sugar with water or lemon juice. You could also make a swift switch to tea or coffee with less amount of sugar.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Our body lacks the ability to distinguish between thirst and hunger. So, if you drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated, you won’t feel the need to eat sugary delights or snacks. Several people often drink fruit juices instead of drinking water. You may be probably wondering what’s so bad about drinking homemade fruit juices.

Fruits are undoubtedly rich in fibre, which will help in controlling the sugar level in our body. However, fruits contain more amounts of fibre when they are in their natural form. So, when you cut or blend them, the percentage of fibre in fruits gets reduced. Moreover, the resulting juice may spike the blood sugar levels, which is not good for your health.

Why Switching To A Healthy Diet Can Help Reduce The Risk Of Diabetes

One of the biggest risk orders for Type 2 diabetes is being obese or overweight. So, one of the simplest ways to increase the risk of diabetes is to lose weight. Fortunately, you will be able to lose weight by switching to a healthy & balanced diet and by avoiding the intake of sugar. In fact, making small changes is quite enough to help you lose weight.

Making small changes like replacing fast & packaged foods with home cooked meals and consuming protein-rich food is sure to help you lose weight. Apart from that, you could also replace white rice with brown rice, white bread with whole-grain bread, & include otas, leafy vegetables, and more in your diet.

It might be quite complicated for some people to switch to a balanced & healthy diet. This is why we have come up with a simple way, which will help you to include essential nutrients in your diet with ease. Our Smart Carbs plan that features a fine selection of healthy, nutrient-dense, and delicious meals is sure to supply enough nutrition. The right combination of healthy and tasty food will help you kickstart a healthy eating habit and it might also help you lose weight with proper exercise.

10 Diwali Snacks Recipes To Add Sparkle To Diwali Celebrations

Diwali is an Indian festival that most of us look forward to. It is that time of the year when most people spend quality time with friends, family, and near & dear ones. Diwali will be celebrated on 14th November this year and most of us would have probably started preparing for the festival. However, if you have not yet started preparing, it’s high time that you do because Diwali is just around the corner.

Just like most Indian festivals, food is an important part of Diwali celebrations. A wide range of Diwali snacks and Diwali sweets are prepared by families and enjoyed during the festival. There are several Diwali snacks recipes that you can easily prepare at your home with a handful of ingredients. If you are wondering where to begin, here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

Namak Pare

Namak Pare, also called as nimkin or nimki, is a crunchy Indian snack that is prepared during Diwali and other auspicious occasions. The delicious snack is prepared with refined flour, ghee, carom seeds, and cumin seeds. You can prepare Namak Pare in just 30 minutes. The texture, taste, and appearance of the snack is quite similar to samosa pastry.

Poha Chivda

If you are looking for an easy to prepare Diwali snack, Poha Chivda is an excellent option. Poha Chivda actually can be considered as a superfood. This is because the yummy Indian snack offers a wide range of health benefits to you. For instance, it is high in iron and contains sufficient amounts of healthy carbohydrates. It is also an ideal snack option for the ones who are trying to lose weight.

Mini Samosa

Mini samosa is a yummy North Indian snack that can be easily prepared with flour, roasted peanuts, and spices. These scrumptious and crunchy potato-filled snacks can be served as a finger food or starter for kitty parties or anniversaries. You can also stuff mini samosa with onion or other veg/non-veg stuffings based on your preference.

Karanji

The sweet, delicious, and deep-fried dumpling, Karanji is another Diwali snack recipe that you can easily prepare at home. It is prepared with all purpose flour or semolina and stuffed with dried nuts and sweetened khoya mixture. The preparation method of Karanji is quite similar to that of samosa. It is usually prepared during Indian festivals and other auspicious occasions.

Chakli

Chakli is a crisp, crunchy, and deep-fried spiral shaped snack, which is perfect for Diwali festival. Different varieties of this snack are available in the country and they are referred as Chakri in Gujarat while called as Murukku in South India. Chakri is made with atta, but murukku is prepared with rice flour. You can easily prepare Murukku or Chakli in less than one hour.

Ribbon Pakoda

The fried and crispy ribbon shaped snack, Ribbon Pakoda is actually a variation of murukku. This is why it is also called Ribbon Murukku. Different versions of Ribbon Pakoda can be prepared using different proportions of rice and besan flour. Sometimes, roasted gram flour is also used in the preparation of Ribbon Pakoda, which makes it crunchy and crispy.

Thattai

These deep-fried and crunchy rice crackers are an excellent choice for serving as a Diwali snack to your near and dear ones. Thattai is commonly prepared during auspicious occasions and festivals seasons like Diwali and Krishna Jayanthi. They are made with herbs, spices, and rice flour.

Mixture

Here is a popular South Indian snack that you can enjoy with your family during Diwali. Mixture is nothing but a mix of different edible ingredients, dry fruits, and nuts. In the north and western parts of India, this snack is called Chivda while in South India, it is known as mixture.

Sev

Here is another popular North Indian snack that can be prepared during Diwali. Sev is actually used as a topping in upma, poha, and chaats. But, they can also be eaten alone. You can spice and flavor Sev with ajwain or carom seeds.

Sweet Murukku

If you are craving for a sweet Diwali snack, you should definitely try Sweet Murukku. It is an easy to prepare snack that can be made with jaggery syrup and plain murukku. The crunchiness and light sweetness of Sweet Murukku is sure to leave you and your friends impressed.

Why Is It Important For Kids To Follow A Healthy Diet

International Chef Day is celebrated on the 20th of October every year. The day is observed every year to help all of us know about the integral role of chefs in our society. Additionally, International Chef Day greatly focuses on educating children on eating healthy. In fact, the theme of International Chef Day 2020 is “Healthy Food For The Future.”

How your kid eats today is sure to have a significant impact on his/her health throughout adulthood and adolescence. Eating food that is rich in nutrients is essential for the mental and physical development of children. So, let us discuss on healthy eating for kids and why it is really important.

Why Kids Should Follow A Healthy Diet

Nutrition and diet are two important factors that can have a huge impact on the growth & health of kids. Children need plenty of nutrients to develop necessary tissues and functions. The absence of these nutrients may have a big impact on the health of kids. The behavioral patterns, basic brain function, & more are often influenced by a child’s diet.

Benefits Of Eating Healthy

Studies have revealed that poor nutrition and diet can restrict the brain development of children. An unhealthy eating habit or diet may also result in issues with behavior and attention span in some children. Also, the body requires an adequate amount of nutrients and energy to build bones.

One of the major perks of kids following a healthy diet is that the risk of obesity will be considerably lower for them. The good news is that sticking to a proper and healthy diet will help your kid to stay away from all above listed issues.

What Does Balanced Diet For Kids Really Mean

Ensuring that your children are eating fruits, vegetables, and other food items rich in nutrients is not just enough. You will need to make sure that your children have a healthy relationship with food. For instance, they should not eat just for the sake of it and they should also be aware that binging on junk food is unhealthy.

Eating homemade food is the best way that will help you to ensure that your kids are getting enough nutrition. It can be quite hard to get your kids to follow a healthy diet when you don’t have time to cook. If that’s the case, we can help you get healthy and delicious home cooked meals for your family.

Golden Rules To Follow During Navratri Fasting

Navratri is just around the corner and the festival actually marks the onset of several other celebrations like Eid and Diwali. This year, Navratri celebrations will begin on 17th October and end by 25th October. Devotees consider these 9 nine days of Navratri to be very auspicious. In fact, everyone tries to please Goddess Durga through prayers, special pujas, and even fasting.

Several devotees observe Navratri fasting believing that the Goddess will shower blessing on them & bring success and prosperity. There is also a scientific logic behind fasting during Navratri apart from religious reasons. Navratri usually starts during the change of a season ( beginning of winter season this year).

The immune system of our body tends to be on a lower side at this time of the year. So, following a light diet with nutrient-rich food will keep you healthy and away from diseases. In short, Navratri fasting will help you to detox your body and it will also boost digestion.

How To Fast Properly During Navratri

There are numerous benefits you can enjoy by fasting during Navratri. However, you won’t be able to enjoy any of these benefits if you fast incorrectly. Incorrect fasting may disturb your body’s balance and you may get tired, sick, and exhausted. So, here are a few golden rules on how to fast properly during Navratri.

Do Not Starve Yourself

Some people starve themselves to death when they are fasting. Be sure to avoid fasting for longer durations and make sure to eat fresh nuts or fruits at regular intervals. This will detoxify your body and help you avoid issues like fatigue, weakness, and headaches that may happen due to fasting.

Stay Hydrated

One of the golden rules of Navratri fasting is to stay hydrated. Make sure to drink lots of water, fruit & vegetable juices, or even low-fat milk. This will give adequate amounts of body fluid. You should also try not to eat too much sugar when you are fasting for Navratri. For instance, replace refined sugar with honey or jaggery.

Eat Foods That Are Rich In Fiber

Be sure to include green vegetables and other food items that are rich in fiber. Fiber-rich food takes more to digest, which will keep you full so that you don’t feel hungry. Another added advantage of including fiber-rich food in your diet is that they will reduce the risk of diabetes. The key is to stick to healthy homemade food and follow a balanced diet that will help improve digestion.

Protein Rich Foods You Should Include In Your Diet

Most of us often try to stick to a healthy and balanced diet while trying to lose weight or to stay healthy. However, some people feel that watching their daily calorie intake and cutting down sugar and salt from their diet is enough. The reality is that you also need to ingest enough proteins if you are looking to switch to a healthy eating habit. So, it is important to include protein rich Indian foods in your diet.

If you do not have enough protein in your diet, you are not on a healthy or balanced diet. Insufficient amounts of protein in your daily diet will result in weakness, muscle cramps, and other serious health issues. So, make sure you are eating an adequate amount of foods that are high in proteins.

Why You Should Eat Protein Rich Foods

There are plenty of reasons why you should eat protein rich foods on a daily basis. For instance, protein rich foods will not just increase muscle mass, but they will also boost metabolism. In addition, protein rich foods can even help in improving brain health.

Another added advantage of eating food that is rich in proteins is that it will considerably reduce your craving for sugary food items. When there is not enough protein in our body, we develop a tendency to eat sweets and other sugary items. Some of the best and easy to find protein rich foods that you can start including in your diet are listed below.

Protein rich Indian foods — Egg Biriyani

Eggs

Eggs can be usually found on the top of most lists of protein-rich food. This is because eggs are an excellent source of healthy fats, minerals, vitamins, and protein. The protein content in one boiled egg that includes a yolk is about 6 percent.

Oats

Oats is one of the healthiest and nutritious grains available to us. It contains plenty of magnesium, healthy fibers, and several other useful nutrients.

Almonds

Almonds is another rich source of protein, which is also high in magnesium, Vitamin E, fiber, and more.

Soybeans

Soybeans are rich when it comes to folate, protein, and vitamin C, and they also have low quantities of saturated fat. You can get at least 28 grams of protein in a single bowl of soybean that is cooked.

Chicken Breast

Another common source of protein that non-vegetarians can include in their diet is chicken breast. In fact, the protein content in chicken breast is about 75 percent.

You will be able to have control on your daily protein intake if you switch to home cooked meals. This way, you will be able to guarantee that you are eating the necessary amount of protein every day.

5 Homemade Rice Recipes You Can Easily Prepare At Home

Rice is an important food crop in our country and it provides food to at least half of the Indian population. Even though Rice is an integral part in different Indian cuisines, we do not know a lot about Rice. It might come as a surprise to many readers when they hear that over 40,000 rice varieties are available out there. In some countries or in some cultures, rice is considered as a symbol of fertility and life.

Rice would probably be consumed in one form or another by most of us on a daily basis. In South India, rice is often used to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In fact, rice is one of the main carbohydrate sources for South Indians. It is certain that most of us would have experimented or tried to prepare recipes with rice. If you have not, here are a few homemade rice recipes to help you get started.

Homemade Jeera Rice

Jeera rice is an easy to prepare rice recipe, whose main ingredients are rice and cumin (also called jeera)seeds. Cumin seeds not just add taste, texture, and flavor to the dish, but it also improves the nutritional values. In fact, cumin seeds are an excellent source of copper, zinc, iron, and several other nutrients.

Homemade Lemon Rice

The popular South Indian rice recipe. Lemon rice can be easily and quickly prepared at your home with a few ingredients. The rice recipe can be prepared with both leftover rice or freshly prepared rice. Lemon rice is usually served with vegetable salad, coconut chutney, or pappadams.

Homemade Coconut Rice

Are you craving for a delicious and unique rice recipe? If so, you will surely love coconut rice. Coconut rice, which is made with freshly grated coconut and rice is an absolute delight for the ones who love rice recipes.

Homemade Coriander Rice

Here is a tasty rice recipe that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Coriander rice is prepared with rice, spices, and several vegetables. You can add more vegetables like green peas, broccoli, tendli, and more to the rice recipe to make it more nutritious.

Homemade Mutter Pulao

Mutter Pulao, which is prepared with herbs, spices, green peas, and rice is another common Indian rice recipe. It can be easily prepared at your home within 30 or less than 30 minutes. It can be served with pickle, chicken curry, vegetable curry, and more.

Are you looking for more easy to prepare homemade recipes? If so, we have a few suggestions for you.