Can Healthy Food Taste Good?

Most people have this misconception about food - it either tastes good, or its good for you - the two shall never meet. Unfortunately that drives some people away from eating healthy altogether. Others who are more determined will eat miserable tasting food in an attempt to lose weight or accomplish some other health or physical goal. This very often results in failed diets since it is hard to keep forcing yourself to eat food that is not palatable.

I have been reading and speaking to nutritionists, and am more and more convinced that food can both be good and taste great at the same time. Very often it is simply by modifying your diet or substituting ingredients with healthier options (yogurt based dips and dressings, grilling meats instead of frying etc.). Once you enjoy eating healthy food it will be easier to make healthy eating more a lifestyle than a diet. This is key to sustainable weight loss as well as general physical fitness and good health.

My next few blogs will focus on some healthy, easy to make recipes with ingredients that are universally available (not sure if my FB friends in India have access to quinoa or steel cut oats).

Start your day with this breakfast to boost your energy for the day.

Walnut Apple Berry Oatmeal
1/2 cup steel cut oats (better than reg oatmeal)
1 cup water
1 cup low fat milk (optional and can be substituted with water or soy milk)
2" stick cinnamon
1 apple - cored and cut into small pcs.
1/2 cup seasonal berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries)
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1 tbsp. maple syrup
1 scoop whey protein (at least 25 g protein)

Soak the steel cut oats for 30 mins. Boil with water and milk and add the cinnamon. Reduce heat and simmer until oats are cooked and liquid is absorbed (steel cut oats take approx 35-40 mins to cook), stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and mix in apples, walnuts and maple syrup. Dissolve whey protein in a little water and add to oatmeal. Garnish with berries and serve.

You will notice, this bowl of oatmeal contains the three essentials - protein, (good) carbohydrate and fruit. ENJOY!