FAST TRACK TO HEALTH

Mirrorreader Sulochana Jain helps you put together healthy meals at the snap of your fingers

Sulochana Jain's household could be classified as health Nazis. They believe in yoga, natural cures and minimal cooking. While that may sound like hard work to the rest of us, the home-maker from Chembur shows us just how easy it is to pump yourselves with nature's goodness.
SOYA LADOOS INGREDIENTS:500 gm soya flour, 400 gm jaggary, 300 gm ghee, 2 tbsp finely chopped almonds, 1 tsp powdered cardamom, 15 raisins, 6-7 saffron threads, 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder.
    METHOD: Fry soya flour
    in ghee on medium flame. When the mixture turns pink, switch off the flame and add cardamom powder, chopped almonds and nutmeg power. Cut jaggery into small pieces and melt it separately with the saffron. Add the melted jaggery to the soya mixture and mix well. Take handful and roll into small balls. Store in air tight container.
BENEFITS:
Soy's isoflavones have an estrogenlike effect. Therefore, these ladoos reduce menopausal side-effects such as hot flushes. They also reduce loss of bone density and risk of osteoporosis. BANANA PEEL BHAAJI INGREDIENTS: Peels from four ripe green bananas (chopped), 2 green chillies (finely chopped), 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 mustard seeds, 1 pinch asafoetida powder, 2 tbsp cooking oil, 6-7 curry leaves, 2 tbsp freshly grated coconut, salt to taste.
METHOD: Heat oil in a saucepan. Add cumin and mustard seeds till they splutter. Add curry leaves and green chillies and fry for 30 seconds. Add the chopped banana peels and fry for 30 seconds. Add all the dried spices and cook on low flame covered for 5-7 minutes. Garnish with grated coconut.
BENEFITS:
Banana peels are high in fibre, curing constipation which shows in a clear skin.
POWER JUICE INGREDIENTS: 200 gm gourd, 3 amlas, 1 apple, 2 carrots.
METHOD: Coarsely chop the above ingredients. Run them through a mixie or juicer with 300 ml water. Strain through muslin cloth and serve.
BENEFITS:
This juice is packed with Vitamin C and iron. It cleans the stomach, stimulates appetite and raises haemoglobin count. Drink every day for four days and feel the difference.
SPICY AMLA SIDE-DISH INGREDIENTS: 250 gm grated amla, 2-3 tbsp ready-made pickle masala, 2-3 tbsp mustard oil, salt to taste.
METHOD: Mix pickle masala, mustard seed oil and salt with grated amla. Makes for a great accompaniment to stuffed parathas. Cover and store in the fridge up to 15 days.
BENEFITS:
Amla is packed with Vitamin C (even when dried, it doesn't lose any of its properties).Amla also helps reduce blood pressure; aids tissue repair and is great for hair.
WALNUT CANDY INGREDIENTS: 200 gm walnuts (whole), 150 gm jaggery.
METHOD: Melt the jaggery on low flame and toss the walnuts in it until they are evenly coated. Cool at room temperature before storing.
BENEFITS:
Walnuts are rich in Vitamin E which is good for skin and hair. Jaggery has magnesium which relieves fatigue and relaxes muscles, nerves and blood vessels. It also has potassium which reduces water retention.The iron in it raises haemoglobin count. – COMPILED BY MITALI PAREKH