what to eat to lose & maintain your weight(meal plan for a day)

Meal 1 (8 AM)
Breakfast - Most important meal of the day

1 Brown bread thick slice -125 cals and thin slice- 60 cals
1 Egg - 80 cals
Green tea 1 cup - 0 cal
1 Orange or any fruit - 40 cals
No added sugar jam 1 spoon - 30 cals

Total cal= 335

Meal 2 (11 AM)
Banana smoothie

2 Whole medium banana (sliced and frozen a day before) - 180 cals
250 ml semi- skimmed milk - 120 cals
*Optional soy milk
- just blend them together to get a nice smoothie.

Total cal= 300

Meal 3 (2 PM)
Lunch

Sandwich bread 2 thin slices - 100 cals
Half a can of tuna - 80 cals
100 g of grilled veges - 40 cals
30 g grated low fat cheese - 40 cals
25 g of tomato sauce - 80 cals

Place the sandwich bread in the grilling plate and top it with tuna and cheese. Grill them for 5 mins. Eat it with grilled veges and tomato sauce.

Total cal= 340

Meal 4 (4.30 PM)
Tea time

Small cup of tea or coffee with skimmed milk. Add 1/2  teaspoon of sugar to the tea or coffee- 40 cals (Try to avoid sugar to your tea and coffee)
Hand full of nuts(any) - 180 cals
*Roughly 30 g of nuts

Total cal= 220

Meal 5 (8 PM)
Dinner

Brown rice half cup - 70 cals
Medium grilled salmon - 70 cals
2 cups of fruits - 80 cals
100 g lightly stir -fried veges - 50 cals

Total cal= 270

Total calories intake = 1465

This meal plan is for losing your weight. You can also modify this chart according to your taste but do not exceed 1500 calories if you want to lose weight.

Potato mash (Diet food)

Serves 2
Ingredients:

Potatoes- 3
Green chilly(finely chopped)- 1
Coriander leaves(finely chopped)- 2 tablespoon 
olive oil- 2 teaspoon
Chaat masala- 1/2 teaspoon
Lemon juice- 1 tablespoon
Cumin & pepper powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Mint leaves(finely chopped)- 1 teaspoon
Olives few chopped (optional)
Salt 

Method:

* Boil the potatoes in water until tender. Peal the skin and mash well. 
* Add all the ingredients to the potatoes and stir well.

You can eat this mash just by itself or pair up with any bread of your choice:-)

Homemade Gulab Jamun recipe (Diwali special)

Ingredients

Maida/ all purpose flour- 1/4 cup or 1 tablespoon
Milk powder- 1 cup
Curd- 1 teaspoon
Baking soda- 1/2 teaspoon
Salt- a pinch
Elaichi powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Vanilla essence or rose essence- 2 drops(optional)
Sugar- 1 1/2 cups
Water- 2 cups
Ghee- 1-2 tablespoons
Ghee/ oil- to fry
Milk- as required for making dough


Method:

For syrup: Add water, sugar, powdered elachi and vanilla essence, bring to boil and boil for 8 mins to 10 mins in medium flame.

For jamuns:

1. Mix maida, baking powder, salt, milk powder, curd, ghee(1 tablespoon) and milk(don't use hot milk) together and make a soft dough. keep it aside for 10 mins.

2. This mixture will be sticky but smooth.After 10 mins apply some oil on your palms and make small balls from the dough because these jamun balls will double in size when it is soaked in sugar syrup.

3. Bring oil hot, not smoking hot, but hot enough to fry the jamuns. Keep in low flame and add the jamuns and keep rolling the jamuns gently with the use of the ladle inside the oil so that it gets evenly cooked and fried to deep golden brown in color. Fry only few at a time, don't dump the jamuns in the oil.

4. Drain the fried jamuns in kitchen towel and immediately add it to hot syrup.

5. Let it get soaked well in the syrup for 3 hrs at least.

Your tasty jamuns are ready to serve.!!!

How long should you keep Makeup products???

How long should you keep Makeup products???

Many people have doubts about shelf life of the makeup products once they are opened(shelf life is different from expiry date). Expiry date: Products should not be used if the expiration date has passed. They should be discarded.

Mascara & liquid eyeliner: Every time you put the wand back into the tube, you’re letting in  bacteria. These products have the shortest shelf life. Replace mascara every 3 and eyeliners every 6 months or less.

Liquid foundation: Stored away from heat, foundation can remain stable for up to a year. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, don’t dip your finger into the bottle. Apply with a brush or sponge, and don’t double dip.

Lip gloss & lipstick: These are less likely than liquid-based makeup to grow bacteria. It’s safe to hold on to them for at least 6 months and the lipstick for a year.

Powders: Unless you notice a funny smell or the color has turned, you can safely use powder-based products for 18 months to 2 years.

19 Foods to Boost your Immune system

Everyone comes down with viruses and infections now and then but there are things you can do to help strengthen your body’s defenses. Add these immune-boosting super foods to your diet and your body will have a better chance of fighting off infection and recovering more quickly.

1.Herbs

Herbs, like sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano contain potent antioxidants. Oregano is particularly rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids – two nutrients that help to protect against the common cold, flu, fevers and indigestion.

2. Red pepper

Research shows that boosting your diet with vitamin C can help reduce cold symptoms by 23 per cent. Don’t limit yourself to citrus fruit. Red peppers contain almost twice the amount of vitamin C found in most vegetables and fruits, including oranges.

3. Mushrooms

Eating mushrooms is believed to increase the production of cytokines in the body, cells that help fight off infection. The best immune-boosting varieties to eat are shiitake, maitake and reishi.

4.Fruits & Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the body’s natural defense against free radicals that contribute to common infections, as well as heart disease and cancer. Orange-hued veggies, like carrots and pumpkin, are highest in beta carotene.

5.Natural yogurt

The “good bacteria” found in natural, live yogurt can help maintain a healthy digestive system, and some may help combat harmful bacteria like salmonella and viral infections.

6.Oily fish

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as mackerel and salmon, aren’t just good for brain and heart health – studies show they can boost our immunity by stimulating the activity of white blood cells too.

7.Ginger 

A powerful antioxidant, ginger can aid in the body’s detoxification process and balance the immune system for proper functioning. Studies show that ginger can switch on T-cells, a group of white blood cells that are capable of destroying cells infected by viruses.

8.Almonds

 Research shows that eating almonds can help the body fight off viral infections, including the common cold and flu. According to experts, the skin of the almond contains chemicals which help white blood cells to detect viruses and so prevent them from spreading in the body.

9.Honey

Celebrated for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, studies show honey can help with wound healing and fight infection. Choose buckwheat honey or Manuka for maximum benefits.

10.Red onions

Onions contain a powerful natural chemical called quercetin which strengthens the body’s defences and may even help destroy food poisoning bacteria E.coli and salmonella.

11.Garlic

Garlic stimulates the production of infection-fighting white cells and boosts the efficiency of antibody production in the body. Eat it raw (try hummus or guacamole) for best results.

12.Turmeric

 Researchers have found that curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical found in turmeric, can help the immune system fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi the first time they try to attack.

13.Vitamin D

Studies show that vitamin D strengthens the body’s immune system and 'triggers and arms' the body’s T cells to attack invaders and fight infection. If you don’t get much sunshine, top up your levels by eating vitamin-D rich foods (such as eggs and fortified breakfast cereals and breads) or take a supplement.

14.Blueberries

Studies show that compounds found in blueberries (pterostilbene) and red grapes (resveratrol) can significantly boost the immune system, especially when combined with vitamin D.

15.Chili's

Studies show that capsaicin, the compound that gives chilli peppers their heat, can help the body produce more antibodies, which means fewer colds and infections. They’re also rich in antioxidants which help to fight infection.

16.Avocado

Eating foods that help promote the production of glutathione, the master detoxifier and mother of all antioxidants, is one of the best ways to supercharge your immune system. Tuck into avocados, along with watermelon, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, onions and asparagus.

17.Basil nuts

Brazil nuts are a good source of selenium, a mineral which helps boost the number of white blood cells in the body. Studies suggest that low levels of selenium are linked to an increased risk of developing more severe flu – so get your nuts!

18.Tea

Black tea has a lot of caffeine. It also contains a little bit of a stimulating substance called theophylline. Both can speed up your heart rate and make you feel more alert.

Black tea is also full of healthy substances called polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that can help protect your cells from DNA damage.

Some scientists think that specific antioxidants in tea, including polyphenols and catechins, may help prevent some types of cancer.

19. Broccoli

Broccoli is bursting with vitamins E, C and A - all powerful immune-boosting antioxidants. Stir fry a handful of florets with garlic, chilli and ginger, for a potent infection-fighting dinner.

Simple French toast

Ingredients:

1 bread loaf (1/2 inch slice, each)

3 eggs

Salt 1/4 teaspoon (if you're adding unsalted butter) 

1/2 cup heavy cream 

Butter, for grilling and serving

Maple syrup, for serving

Method:

- Whisk together eggs and cream.

- Heat a flat grill pan over medium - high heat, and add 1tbsp butter for every two pieces of French toast.

- Dip a slice of bread in egg and cream, flip and repeat.

- Add the bread to the pan, and grill until golden brown on both sides.

- Serve immediately with additional butter, maple syrup or whipped cream.

* This is one of the best breakfast recipe. You can serve this with fresh fruits to make a complete breakfast.

* If you are using unsalted butter add 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Mango salsa (It's Mango season!!!!)

Mango salsa

It's mango season. The market is full of sweet ripe mangoes and most of us are consuming them in some or other way.
We bring to you yet another mango dish for your dinning table. 
This one comes with a twist, sweetness of mangoes along with some hot flavors. Hope you like it.

Main ingredients:

*2 fresh, large, ripe yet firm sweet mangoes, diced into small    pieces 
*1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
*1/4 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
*2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
*1 shallot (little red onion), finely diced
*2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves
*2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
*Salt and pepper (to taste)


Optional ingredients:

*1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 
*Few mint leaves 
*1/4 cup pineapple, diced into small pieces
*1/4 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped

Method:

Step 1: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl 
Step 2: Toss well and allow to sit at least 30 minutes before serving.