The semester’s on! The stage is set with assignments, lectures & the clubs, ready to scavenge all your time. Your college life is an emotional rollercoaster, from fluctuating friendships, crushing on the hottest girl/guy to sour heart-breaks! And when food is your soulmate, strengthening you to survive through all odds, when you are all famished and ready to evoke the inner Adam Richman. You have to settle for the mess ki daal or the maid’s mercy( if you are renting a flat), which makes you homesick. To cope with your hectic schedule you need a healthy diet and need to feel good about yourself. However it’s always easier to order a cheese burst pizza, Hamburgers, Fried chicken wings, isn’t it?
Ever wondered that it’s not too late to conjure up your inner Sanjeev Kapoor or Vikas Khanna? Grab the spatula, the ladle, the knife, and grater; fill your hearts with the fervor to cook as I am going to share 7 easy breezy recipes, which are delicious, healthy, rejuvenating and hold the power to soothe that aching heart of yours!
Note- I am going to add an ‘Author’s Twist’ after every recipe to share my tips and take on the dish!
1. Multi-grain Vegetable Sandwich
Starting your day with a Multi-grain Vegetable Sandwich is a wise option. You are free to experiment and add any vegetables, subject to liking and availability! The Multigrain bread has high dietary fiber and helps in weight loss.
Indulge in this healthier & tastier version of the Vegetable Sandwiches with the actress Shilpa Shetty-
Author’s Twist - Always go for a whole wheat variant of multigrain bread as the market is flooded with the white and less healthy ones!
2. Indian Masala Omelette
This dish is super-duper easy, pocket-friendly and a great way to satiate your hungry stomachs after workouts. Eggs are an inexpensive yet rich source of protein, Vitamin B12, D, and minerals. You can also have it as a mid-evening snack to prevent yourself from going for Junk!
Make this simple yet enriching dish with MasterChef winner Shipra Khanna-
Author’s Twist - To make your eggs fluffed up, add a tablespoon of milk into the beaten eggs and taste the clouds!
3. Poha
Poha is one of the healthiest meal to kickstart your day with. With the beaten rice, a whole lot of vegetables, it is a complete meal in itself and will keep you full for a long time. The most interesting thing about this Indian breakfast is that it can be consumed by people, allergic to wheat. Rich in proteins, carbs, vitamins, and minerals; it is gluten-free and good for people on a diet.
Relive the Golden Khana Khazana Days with this recipe by MasterChef Sanjeev Kapoor-
Author’s Twist - Avoid adding potato if you are on a diet. You can garnish it with a dash of crumbled paneer, rich in proteins.
4. Overnight Chocolate Oats
There couldn’t be a better way to serve oats. Chocolate and oats with the sweetness of ripe bananas, heaven! This is a no-cook recipe. It is super easy and customizable as you can add your favorite fruits and relish health! Oats are rich in fiber & omega-3. Bananas are rich in potassium and add the natural sweetness, cutting additional sugar intake.
Lose weight with this healthy recipe-
Author’s Twist - Drizzle some melted peanut butter over the cold Chocolate oats and dig in.
5. No Bake Mac-n-Cheese
Okay, this may not be the dish for health-freaks, but the most sorted out comfort food. I might sound like a cheese snob, but trust me cheese is rich in calcium, is a non-meat source of protein and good fats. Our body needs everything in moderation. So a cup of the gooey Mac-n-cheese is not gluttony!
Time to make this quick to make, 4 ingredients, No Bake Mac-n-cheese-
Author’s Twist- For Eggetarians- Serve this bowl of goodness with a sunny-side up egg. Thank me later!!
6. Grilled Vegetable Salad
Fresh Green and Raw salads are not everyone’s favorite. Grilled Vegetable Salad is a great alternative and it’s yummy! The salad dressing can be experimented with. Olive oil, which is loaded with health benefits, can be used generously and adds that subtlety to the dish.
Let’s Grill those veggies with this recipe-
Author’s Twist- If you do not have a microwave, use a grill pan or tava to grill the veggies.
7. Pancakes
The final addition to this list is my and everyone’s favorite - Pancakes. Oh! Those fluffy little darlings are perfect for a Sunday morning. I won’t say it’s really healthy with the refined flour. But it comes with the goodness of eggs.
Here’s a recipe by Chef Chinu to make fluffy pancakes
Author’s Twist- Avoid sugar and take a step and drizzle that glazing honey for sweetness. Serve with a spoon full of Nutella richness or a generous scoop of ice cream.
Okay! Okay! This is a sin. But why not reward yourself for going healthy, with this delicacy?
Here’s an article dedicated to all of those living away from their parents, those who can’t spare much time cooking. These recipes are about to elicit a ‘Ma Ma Mia‘, from your mouths. Say Bye bye to junk when you can wear the hat and create magic in a snap!
Actually, these dishes are budget friendly and are made out of the common ingredients present at home or come really handy for those living in PGs and dorms. All these dishes can be prepared without the use of a microwave and won’t take up much of your time. ‘Health is Wealth.’ When healthily is tasty and not hard on the pocket, why not do a little cooking for yourself?
