Eating out

Indian eating patterns are undergoing revolutionary changes with the spectacular boom we are noticing. With the capitalism firmly taking root, incomes of middle class people soaring, people need a excuse to eat out. Birthdays, Parties galore. Ofcourse eating out gives a chance to get together and gives housewives a break from cooking for a day atleast in a week or so. But this throws diets out of the window.

Here is what I recommend to my clients to ensure they eat healthy stuff away from home without missing out the fun:

• Eat something (fruit, a vegetable sandwich made without butter, salad, lime juice or two glasses of water) to tone down your appetite before you leave home.
• At a South Indian restaurant select steamed preparations like rava iddlis, iddiappams and rice and as far as possible avoid oily dishes as vadas, bajjis, pakodas, papads, manchurians and crisp dosas.
• Limit or avoid dishes with coconut or malai or fresh cream.
• At a north indian restaurant order plain tandoor roti instead of fried/greasy baturas, parathas, butter nans etc.,
• For beverages, select an unsweetened juice such as fresh lime with little salt, fresh fruit juice or watermelon juice. Alcoholic beverages always means extra calories.
• Choose lean meat, fish or chicken without skin.
• Choose foods that are boiled, steamed, grilled, broiled, poached, roasted or baked. Avoid deep fried foods as far as possible.
• Order fruit for dessert instead of high calorie item or go for icecreams prepared from low fat milk instead of indian sweets, pie or calorie rich icecreams.

I hope you will keep in mind these tips before going for a day out with your friends. Have a nice time! Enjoy yourself.