| Losing fat-weight is not seen as a | | | | top after boiling and cooling. |
| quick, easy process. That is because | | | | Low-fat masalas |
| many people are misted into believing | | | | Don't fry masalas. Grind roasted masalas |
| that if they diet, they will lose | | | | and add water instead of oil as the |
| weight. They will, but it will not be | | | | cooking medium. |
| fat-weight-loss but water-weight loss | | | | Instead of using coconut or cornflour to |
| and lean-muscle-weight loss. Only | | | | thicken the gravy, use pureed of ground |
| aerobic exercise can build up your lean | | | | vegetables such as onions, carrots, |
| muscle mass and ensure fat-weight loss. | | | | pumpkin. |
| And the best balance can be achieved and | | | | Watch your salad dressing! |
| maintained by regular aerobic exercise | | | | Don't use salad oil Replace it with |
| and a fatless or low-fat diet with | | | | lemon juice, vinegar, Worcester sauce. |
| high-fibre content. Recently, it has | | | | Or herbs such as coriander and mint |
| been discovered that more oxygen is | | | | leaves, chaat masala powder, mustard |
| required to burn fat than burn | | | | powder. Use low-fat curds, paneer made |
| carbohydrates. Which could explain why | | | | from skimmed milk for raitas, or in |
| losing fat-weight is not easy. However, | | | | recipes where you need that creamy |
| regular aerobic exercise combined with | | | | consistency. Whip up the dressing in |
| low-fat or fatless food does the trick. | | | | your bfender with herbs, greens or |
| Food without fat? The image thrown up by | | | | spices of your choice. |
| this phrase is one of boring boiled | | | | Sweeten without sugar |
| vegetables. But our chapter on food will | | | | Wean yourself away from sugar by |
| show you how you can turn out delicious | | | | cultivating a taste for fruit and |
| meals without ghee, butter or oil. | | | | sugar-free tea, coffee. You can use a |
| Meanwhile, here are a few pointers to | | | | low-calorie sweeteners but not too much, |
| convert your eating lifestyle from a | | | | please! Substitute wherever possible |
| fat-producing one to a healthier one | | | | sugar with 'sweet' spices such as |
| that minimises calories and maximises | | | | nutmeg, ginger, cloves. For desserts, |
| energy and efficiency. These practical | | | | use fruit juices as sweeteners. |
| tips will help you climb the fitness | | | | A few more handy tips |
| ladder faster: | | | | Keep sliced vegetables and sprouts in |
| No more oil, please! | | | | the refrigerator as snacks. Avoid tomato |
| Don't season dais with mustard seeds in | | | | sauce/ketchup. Use tomato puree that you |
| oil. Just add the good old rai to the | | | | have blended with garlic, ginger, |
| dal while boiling it. It tastes better | | | | raisins and chilli powder. Eat more |
| without that oily film. Never fry meats, | | | | smaller, low-fat meals during the day |
| vegetables or grains like rice. Instead, | | | | than a big one at one sitting. |
| boil, steam, roast or grill them. | | | | These suggestions are only the |
| Replace chapatis and parathas with dry | | | | beginning. For far too long we have |
| phulkas. | | | | equated gourmet-eating with ghee-fried |
| Trim off fats | | | | food. It's time to destroy those myths |
| Trim all visible fat from meat before | | | | with dynamic fitness thoughts. Don't |
| cooking. | | | | approach oil-less food with 'yech' how |
| Refrigerate cooked non-vegetarian | | | | is it going to taste? The 'yech!" is |
| curries overnight before heating and | | | | only in your mind that has grown |
| serving. This will make it easier to | | | | accustomed to a certain no - healthy |
| slice off that thick crust of white, | | | | style of cooking. |
| hardened fat. In chutneys, use onions as | | | | Your main aim is to give yourself a |
| the base instead of scraped coconut. | | | | leg-up on the fitness ladder. Go for it |
| Onions don't add to your cholesterol | | | | with all the enthusiasm and creativity |
| level. Replace butter with such | | | | that you are naturally blessed with. |
| onion-based chutneys as the spread on | | | | Want to bet that you will win this time |
| your bread for breakfast. Always use | | | | around? |
| skimmed milk and skim the cream off the | | | | |