Holi is around the corner, and the best way to avoid weight gain during festivals is to eat healthy. Here, we share with you some recipes that will help you do just that, after all, Holi is the time to unwind, de-stress, and bond over celebrations!

BARLEY & LENTIL SOUP

Ingredients:

Barley – 1/2 Cup
Lentils – 1 Cup
Chopped Carrots, Celery – 1 Cup
Onions – 1 Cup
Tomato Paste – 1 tbsp
Vegetable Stock – 6 Cups
Bay Leaf – 1
Finely Chopped Parsley – 1 tbsp
Black Pepper – 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
METHOD :

Sprinkle some olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions and garlic for 4 minutes. Add the vegetables stirring occasionally. Then add the vegetable broth, lentils, barley, tomato paste and bay leaf. Boil the soup for 60 minutes at reduces heat or till the lentils are tender. Blend it well, add the salt, pepper and parsley and remove from flame. Serve hot.

HOW TO MAKE VEGETABLE BROTH :

1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1/2 small potatoes, chopped into small chunks
3-4 cloves garlic (you can smash them or leave them whole)
3 bay leaves
8 cups water
salt and pepper
METHOD :

First, place all the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and let your vegetable stock simmer for at least an hour, covered with a lid. You may decide that you want to add a little bit more water during the cooking process as some will evaporate. Keep your stock covered to reduce this.
Once your stock is done cooking, strain out the vegetables and garlic and remove the bay leaves.
NOTES : The importance of eating barley (Dhani) in Holi is to recover damaged skin and hair. Apart from this it also helps in weight loss, aids digestion, beneficial for anemia as it contains important nutrients like Proteins, Fibers, Vitamins & Minerals like Thiamine, Niacin, Zinc, Iron etc. & Phytonutrients like Lignan which helps to prevent Breast Cancer & Coronary Diseases.

WALNUT, ALMOND & DATES LADOO

INGREDIENTS :

4 large dates pitted

½ cup mixed nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Pista, Sesame seeds, Pumpkin seeds)

METHOD :

Dry roast nuts for few minutes & put them aside to cool. In the same pan add dates & heat them till soft. Knead & blend dates in a blender. Mix coarsely chopped nuts with dates & roll them into balls.

NOTES : Dates are good source of Fibers, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and some antioxidants which gives protection from Colon, Lung, Pancreatic Cancers & also give protection against age-related muscular degeneration (Older adults). Nuts are also a good source of Proteins, and are high in potassium which can help regulate blood pressure; Almonds & Walnuts are good source of Omega -3 Fats which is heart friendly.

Photo Credits:
Feedyourtemptations.com
Hungerhunger.blogspot.in