5 essentials to have in your diet this holiday season
Include these ingredients in your diet
It’s that time of the year when you’re tempted to let go a little (cancel that… a lot) but if you’ve spent your last few months getting back on the wagon it may be a good idea to watch what you eat so your efforts don’t go down the drain. Of course you will need to practice mindful eating (as we assume you’ve been doing for these last few months) but it does help to include the following ingredients in your diet this holiday season.
1. Pomegranates
This superfood, which is very much in season, is high on vitamin C and potassium. What’s more it’s a superb source of fibre and low in calories. Pomegranates help fight antioxidants and are easy to include in your diet. Grind them into a juice or peel and have them raw. Include them in your salads or your fresh fruit desserts. You won’t regret it.
2. Sweet potatoes
It isn’t unusual to find someone pushing a cart of sweet potatoes down the street in your city or town. Sweet potatoes roasted on coal are a favourite delicacy in India in the winters. What’s more they’re also amazing for your health. Sweet potatoes are rich in fibre, potassium, and Vitamin A. They’re also rich in antioxidants and possess sugar-regulating and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Have them off the cart as you’ve been having for years or toss them into a salad or make a subzi out of them. Sweet potatoes are the superfood you won’t detest.
3. Pumpkins
Pumpkins are synonymous with the festive season. Even in India, Starbucks offers Pumpkin Latte this time of the year. It also helps that pumpkins are high in fibre, low in calorie and all round superstars. They are also low on sodium, high in beta carotene, an anti-oxidant, and pumpkin seeds are packed with vitamin B, iron and protein. There are number of ways to include pumpkin in your diet starting with pumpkin subzi!
4. Cinnamon
Yet another festive food that’s also a superfood. Cinnamon is known to lower cholesterol, balance insulin levels and also has amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It not only helps fight arthritis and asthma, cinnamon also relieves, heartburn and gas. Cinnamon is also the easiest to incorporate in your food. Add it to your breakfast cereal or hot beverage, use it to temper your vegetables and include it while you’re baking.
5. Apples
Apples are available all year round but the best ones are those that come down during this time of the year – from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit is packed with fibre, which helps reduce cholesterol infections, high in potassium that helps control your blood pressure and it contains powerful antioxidants that prevent brain cells from degenerating. There are a million ways to include apples in your diet. Starting with eating it raw!
