Growing Your Own Sprouts

The first step is to use a good variety of seeds and grains for sprouting and have to keep in mind that the seeds, grains or legumes used for sprouting should be of sproutable type. As wheat is grown in, soil and soybeans do not sprout as they become sour.
Initial step is to wash the seeds thoroughly and then soak them overnight in a jar of clean and pure water. The jar should be covered either with cheesecloth or wire screening, but make sure not to cover the jar fully as to allow air in. The duration of soaking entirely depends on the size of the seeds. As small seeds take 5 hours to get soaked properly, medium size takes 8 hours and beans and grains take 10 to 12 hours for the same matter.
You can adjust the growing time based on whether you are planning on eating the sprouts or juicing the sprouts. Next morning, soaked seeds should be rinsed properly until water is completely drained off. It is important to keep half of the jar empty, as seeds tend to expand their size. There should be ample space for the seeds and grains to be sprouted.
The jar should be placed in the moderate temperature, niether so hot, nor cold. The seeds will germinate and become sprouts in 2 to 3 days from the commencement of soaking, depending on temperature and humidity. Sprouts can be kept for several days in this way.

Fruit will not just add flavor, variety, and color to your diet, fruits will give you essential disease-fighting nutrients you have been missing all these years. The American Dietetics Association and American Heart Association recommend eating at least two to four servings of fruit per day as part of balanced diet. However, unfortunately, most people look at them as optional parts of their daily meals.

Fruits are rich in vitamins, important trace minerals, and fiber. By eating fresh fruits, you can get the best nutrients rather than juicing or drying them. Cut and stored fruit have reduced level of nutrients. Juicing and straining the fruits lowers the amount of fiber. Therefore, it is best to consume the fruit whole, or immediately after cutting it.
Fruit in baked pastries and cakes do not fall under the recommended fruit intake. Therefore, eating apple pie or pineapple tarts will not get you points.

However, there are several ways you can add more fruit to your diet. Here are some of them:
–Add chopped banana or strawberries to your cereal
–Add pineapple bits to your pizza
–Have some snack fruits such as kiwi, grapes, or apple at your desk
–Make nutritious smoothies
–Drink fruit juices rather than cola or coffee
–Stash some dried fruit in your bag.
–Top your rice pilaf with orange slices or raisins
–Eating a fruit salad for dessert instead of cakes.
–Top your ice cream with bits of mango, peaches, or cherries.

Juicing is different from eating fresh fruits and vegetables. When juicing you are separating the mineral elements and distilled water in the food from the fiber.
A healthy diet with plenty of fruits will help you grow, reproduce and maintain your gorgeous self throughout the years. So consider fruits the next time you are looking at adding some zing into your diet. A power-packed serving is virtually low in calories and very high nutrients. Your body will definitely –Thank you.

* Begin your day by drinking water and include at least 2 liter of water in the whole day.
* Try a 5 to 10 minutes work out or a half an hours walk if possible in the morning.
* Eat more salads and less of food rich in calories.
* Don’t skip any meal.
* Carry fruits with you so that you can eat a fruit and lessen your hunger.
* Aim at loosing gradual weight loss and not sudden weight loss. The sudden weight loss if harmful for the body and is regained immediately.
* A healthy diet should be permanent not a burden for a week or two.
* Beware of diet parlours as they claim big but in turn harm your system. Make proper enquiries before enrolling for any diet regime.
* Maintain a proper good eating habit to maintain the gradual weight loss.
* Start with small goals and try to maintain it.

1 kg fish (wash, steam and remove bones)
2 onions
50 gms bengal gram dal
8 green chillies
½ cup coconut
2-tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp aniseeds
8 cardamoms
8 peppercorns
2-tsp poppy seeds
3 cm piece ginger
1 big pod garlic
400 gms curd (tie it up in a muslin bag for one hour)
2 eggs
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Method:

Mash fish to fine paste.
Prepare a masala of all the dry ingredients.
Add salt and lemon juice to the curds and blend well. Add the masala and the curd mixture to the fish and mix well.

Shape into long kababs.
Beat the eggs.
Dip the kababs in the beaten egg and shallow fry.
Serve with a dash of lime and garnish with fresh coriander leaves (optional) and onion rings.

Hope you all will love it.

A study revealed that obesity was prevalent among children who went to private schools.

Why are the children seemingly losing the battle against obesity?

Causes of Obesity-

Poor eating habits and a lack of exercise are the main causes of obesity in children. Six years old and older children seem particularly at risk. These school-age kids have pocket money to spend on snacks and drinks rather than eating healthy foods and spend more time doing sedentary activities such as watching TV or playing computer games.

Genetics also determine how much a child weighs. Research shows that one parent is obese; a child has a 40 percent risk of being obese. If both parents are obese, the risk doubles to 80 percent.
Hormonal problems also cause obesity but this occurs rarely. A small number of children suffer glandular disturbances that cause them to put on weight. Weight correction is possible only by first solving the hormone imbalance.

Another reason for obesity is family conflict or neglect. This is probably one of the toughest problems to tackle with the increasing number of single parent families and those where both parents work long hours, unable to find time to supervise their children. Children left at home may diet on some junk foods rather than make an effort to prepare something healthy. Children exposed to parental conflict may also turn to food to alleviate their unhappiness and their inability to control their family situation.

Therefore, it is advisable to find the exact cause of obesity in your children and then finding the method to overcome the problem.

Oranges: It is an excellent source of vitamin C, oranges are high in fibre,folte,vitamin B1 and A, potassium and calcium. The white pith has nearly as much Vitamin C as the fruit but it is bitter and largely inedible; to get the most out of your oranges, grate the peel for zest to add a splash of flavor and color to your dishes.

Broccoli: t is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin k, vitamin A fol ate, fiber and also a very good source of many other vitamins and minerals. Broccolli is rich in antioxidant and is beneficial in fighting stomach cancer and ulcers. Raw broccoli offers the most benefits, cooking it quickly it quickly retains sweet crunch and many of its nutrients.

Sweet Potatoes: It is a flowering perennial vine in the same family as morning glories, with delicious starchy,tuberous roots. It is one of the most nutritious vegetables in the world. However do not spoil the fun by smothering sweet potatoes in butter and brown sugar,it takes away all its qualities.

Peel the cucumber, divide lengthways, then slice thickly. Cut out and remove the stem of the tomatoes and cut their flesh into thick slices or larger chunks. Peel the red onion and cut in half lengthways, then slice. Lastly, dice the feta in bite-size cubes.

Nicely arrange the prepared veggies and cheese in a big bowl and decorate with Calamata olives. Best dressed right at the table with sea salt , freshly ground black pepper, good olive oil and white wine vinegar.

Ingredients:
3 Cups Uppittu Rava(Semolina)
1/2 tsp Cooking soda
2 Cups Sour curds
1/2 Cup Chopped Coriander leaves
1 tbsp Chopped Curry leaves
Salt to taste

For the Seasoning :
1tsp Mustard Seeds
2tsp Bengal Gram
1tbsp Oil
1tbsp Chopped Cashew nuts

Method: Mix Rava, Cooking soda, Curds, Coriander leaves, Salt and Curry leaves.

Heat Oil and add Mustard Seeds, Bengal Gram and Cashew nuts, when they splutter and turn to golden brown remove and pour over the Rava mix.

Keep aside for 15 minutes.

Pour into greased idli plates and Steam for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with butter and coconut chutney.

Ingredients:
Few slices of Bread
2 Carrots
3 Onions
100gms Cabbage
1 Small bunch of Spring Onions
4 Chopped Green Chilies
3tsp Tomato Ketchup
2tsp Chili Sauce
175gms Mozzarella Cheese
2tbsp Butter
Salt to taste

Method:
Cheesy Onion Toast Chop all the Vegetables very finely. Chop the Spring Onion leaves also. Heat Butter in a pan and add the Onions for a little while. Add the other Vegetables and sautϿ for 5 minutes.

Add half the Cheese and mix well. Add the Tomato Ketchup, Chili Sauce and Salt.

Cook for few minutes. Toast the Bread Slices for 5 minutes in an oven. Spread the vegetable mixture over each slice and sprinkle some cheese over them and toast again until the cheese melts.

Serve hot.