Grab that spatula and get going
Don’t even think about making instant noodles a staple. Even if you’ve never cooked before, you can do this. And if you do spend time in the kitchen anyway, but the prospect of doing it every day feels daunting, there’s help for you too.
FOR BEGINNERS
Start simple – try dal chawal, or something else with not too many ingredients. One-pot dishes are the best; think stirfries or khichdi. They’re hearty, satisfying and easy to make. And there’s less cleaning up after you’re done.
Newbies, be careful about portions, or you’ll be eating the same thing for days. If you do have leftovers, re-purpose. Leftover rice, for example, can be mixed with vegetables to make a stir-fried rice or a pulao.
Every morning, check your vegetable tray to see what is most likely to spoil first, and cook that.
In addition to essentials like rice, atta, pulses, pasta, noodles etc, stock up on sauces and curry pastes.
This will help you try out new dishes and experiment if you are in the mood for it.
Also stock up on easy-tofreeze items like peas and corn. Get packets of frozen vegetables if you don’t want to spend time cleaning and chopping (though fresh vegetables are healthier).
Preserve vegetables. For example, palak can be cleaned and pureed before being refrigerated. This can be used in a soup, added to spaghetti or as the base for palak paneer.
SNACK HEALTHY
It’s easy to keep munching when there’s not a lot else to do, so make sure you snack healthy.
Stock up on nuts, dry fruits and seeds. If you have tomatoes, make a thick soup and refrigerate. It can also be a base for dips. You can make nachos at home. Make dough, as you would for mathri, cut up and bake or fry. Roast makhana.
You can make granola at home with cereal flakes, nuts, honey and yoghurt.
EAT NUTRITIOUS
Make sure you’re getting enough dal, vegetables and dairy. You could try nutri nuggets, if you’re avoiding meat.
Use as little oil in your cooking as possible.
A bit of ghee, virgin coconut oil and butter are better for your gut and therefore your immunity.
Instead of sugar, you can use jaggery for better health; use this time to reduce sugar intake.
Have citrus fruits like lemon and oranges, berries and guava, which boost immunity.
Dried figs, prunes or apricots can be soaked in water and eaten as is or added to desserts. Fruits and seeds can also be blended into healthy smoothies.
Drinking aloe vera juice and amla juice boosts immunity, while jeera water or ajwain water improves digestion and gut health and therefore also immunity.
(Tips courtesy chefs Anahita N Dhondy and Nishant Choubey, food author Anoothi Vishal, nutritionist Kavita Devgan and clinical nutritionist Ishi Khosla)