Diet
Tired of your children throwing a fit every time you ask them to eat healthy veggies? Harness the superpowers of their superheroes to convince them! Researchers have found that invoking names of superhero role models encouraged children to eat healthier food over junk items and illustrated that when superhero cues were given, 36% more children opted for the healthier alternative! So the next time your children are going ballistic about leaving out broccoli or radishes, ask them if their favorite superhero would do that. Will you, however, have the energy to match their extra energy once they get into their “superhero” modes? Sigh! If only YOU were Batman too.
To control our calorie intake, we need to control the portion sizes we serve. But can something like the size of our plates cause us to eat more than we think? A study has explained how larger plates make food servings appear smaller and unconsciously push us into serving more food, while smaller plates can lead us to misjudge that very same quantity of food as being significantly larger. Since some people feel compelled to finish whatever they have served, they invariably end up eating more off larger plates. In order to avoid the glorious act of gluttony, we must manipulate the size of the dinnerware we use!
Do you have a favorite person who waits on you in specific restaurants who might be on the healthier side? He might be the reason for you to order more while dining there – and not because he recommends the best food items to you. A study shows that diners who ordered their dinner from heavier wait staff were four times more likely to order dessert, and ordered 17% more alcohol. Yes, lighting, music and where you sit have also been shown to influence your eating preferences but a heavy waiter or waitress seemed to have a bigger influence on what we ordered, especially on skinniest diners!
Greens and purples, berries and fruits, winter is full of fresh colors and even fresher fruits and veggies! As the winter season sets in and spreads its chilly hands all over the city, we thought that we’d embrace winter with equal zest by gorging on the best and healthiest food items of the season. So go on and take a bite of those deep-purple, bulb-shaped sweet beetroots or feast on those deliciously fleshy and mouth-watering pink strawberries! Pick out a few bunches of the long spinach or methi leaves and use the fiber to beat all your stomach blues away. Have you tried the gajar ka halwa (a carrot dessert) this winter yet?
While there is no formal research that validates that a juice diet is an effective way of losing weight, the calorie content is very low. Initially, it does help with rapid weight loss but may have harmful effects in the long run such as inadequate fiber, fatigue and weakness, deficiencies and reduced muscle mass. A juice diet is also not capable of inducing the feeling of fullness like solid foods.
According to a study, there is a possibility that undercooked chicken can prove harmful to your health. There is a bacterium found in the under-cooked chicken which is known to cause Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is an autoimmune disorder and is world’s leading cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis in humans. If chicken is not properly cooked to the minimal temperature, the bacteria called Campylobacter Jejuni which is still present in the food can trigger GBS.
Most of all, get oranges and carrots back in your regular diet as both of these boost immunity to a large extent during the winter season. Carrot also helps to improve eyesight, prevents cancer, regulates blood sugar etc. Apple should also be kept constant as it protects us against several serious conditions. Peas regulate weight, prevents Alzheimer’s, blood sugar etc. eating spinach is also healthy for your skin and hair during winter.
Fasting is more natural to us than constantly eating 3-4 meals per day because our ancestors were hunters and did not have food all the time. At the same time, fasting is a part of many religions like Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism. It has been proved that intermittent fasting with a regular eating pattern can actually help you lose weight and simply stay fit. The idea is to fast for 16 hours daily or for 24 hours twice a week.
Breakfast is obviously the most important meal of the day as it helps to refuel your body, giving energy and an opportunity to start your routine with a boost of nutrients. Most of the breakfasts are full of carbs, so this is the perfect time for making whole-grain choices. You must also consume protein in the morning to help keep you full. Fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is important for digestion. You must also have an intake of calcium to give you strength for the entire day.
Sauce or a soupy stew are made from those legumes and both are commonly served with rice which is delicious combination offering several health benefits. Protein is made up 20 different amino acids, most of which are provided to the body by consuming dal rice together. Rice, in its own self, has a good amount of fiber to offer, hence it is a good food for people on diet. Of course, there are several other benefits associated with these grains but the best thing is, they taste best together!