6 Indian foods that are good for weight loss

India is a country of paradox. While the government is busy fighting malnutrition the epidemic of obesity is upon us. Over 5 per cent of the population is currently affected by morbid obesity. India is listed among third amongst countries with the largest overweight population. With burger chains opening in every corner of the country, consumption of alcohol and sedentary lifestyle are leading us to silent self-destruction.

This change in lifestyle is making one in every five Indian men and women either obese or overweight. Over weight is linked to life threatening lifestyle diseases like heart health and diabetes. The silver lining to this is that you can reverse this cycle by watching what you eat and exercising.

It might help to get back to the basics of our diet and use Indian foods to help manage our lifestyle better.

Dhokla
A snack from Gujarat made with a fermented batter of gram. It is one of the few non-fried item. This steamed snack is a good combination of carbohydrate and protein. The steaming process also preserves its nutrient content and less consumption of oil.

Besan ka cheela
Made from gram flour this dish is usually eaten in combination with curd, is an instant, nutritious, low calorie, protein rich recipe ideal for breakfast and snack time. Cheela can be a part of weight loss diet since it is low in calories and is also a good vegetarian protein source. You can throw some seasonal vegetables like carrots, spinach, beetroot for added nutrition.

Chhola/chickpea chaat
Bolied chholas flavoured with salt, red chilly, pepper and fresh lemon juice along with raw onions, cucumber and tomatoes. A complete meal by itself as a bowl contains only 280 calories, is filling and is packed with nutrition!

Moong Dal/Sprout chaat
Mostly served as a breakfast dish is rich in vitamin C. Easy to prepare sprout chaat can be eaten raw or slightly cooked in a non-stick vessel with half a tea spoon of oil. You can notch up the health quotient by adding seasonal fresh vegetables to it or simply add onions, tomatoes,cucumber and a dash of lime juice. It takes less than ten minutes to prepare, builds your immunity and keeps you full for longer.

Tandoori Paneer
Did you know that 100 grams of tandoori paneer is approximately 90 calories! Whoever said diet food is tasteless must have not remembered to eat paneer. A dish high on protein and calcium that is not only delicious but also keeps you full for longer is great for weight loss.

Mixed vegetable daliya
A complete meal in itself, daliya contains a variety of seasonal vegetables, is loaded with fibre, is a good source of magnesium, high in nutrition and low in calories, that can be eaten for breakfast or as a quick meal option for lunch or dinner. It keeps you satiated for a longer time by making you feel fuller.