I just could not let today go by without posting.

Today is International No-Diet Day; an annual celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity. This day is also dedicated to raise awareness of the dangers in diets. Observed on May 6, its symbol is a blue ribbon.
I believe the concept began to combat the unreal expectations created by the fashion and retail industry. Especially the effect it has on young impressionable minds when underweight or just normal growing teens look in the mirror and see FAT. I’m in total accord with all this. I’m all for not being obsessed by your body size.

I KNOW that extreme or yo-yo dieting is the worst thing possible for anyone. I know that a few days into a diet, your body goes into fasting mode, in other words, the metabolism slows down and you stop losing calories at your otherwise normal pace. I know a healthy, sensible diet, eating in moderation, lots of fruit and raw veggies, interesting salads with sensible low-fat dressings are the thing to do. I’ve seen the food pyramid. I know that moderate exercise is the way to go.

But all that is theory.
I also remember clearly how I looked just 5 years ago, and I still have those jeans and skirts. No I don’t throw out things I haven’t worn in 6 months. Maybe some part of my subconscious is aiming for the ‘Secret’ way of doing things, – dream of your perfect body, ask for it firmly and then know it will come to you.
Sigh. Let’s face it, I think my mind just thinks fat. I prefer meats, I love anything that’s generally considered sinful; if its got butter or cheese or flour, or it’s deep fried, most likely it’s on my top 10 foods. And I HATE exercise. Walking is ok, but I mean, after 15 minutes or so, I have so many more interesting things I need to go and do!

But this last month or so I really have been very careful. I have a large salad with most meals. I haven’t been out for dinner. I’m trying to stop eating when I’m not hungry any more, rather than when I’m full. I try to avoid the greasy snack we order into the office at 6.30pm. And I have been walking for more than 20 minutes at least 3 mornings a week. Sure I dropped a kilo, but I can’t say its made me particularly thrilled. What makes me super-mad is that just a day of carelessness can undo a whole week’s work!

So I’m going to just going to celebrate No-Diet Day in my way. Bring on the burgers and fries!

Just a coincidence but this morning I saw a write-up in the paper about this company that sells healthy, natural fruit juices. Apart from the fact that I was interested in knowing more, the name – Nutrotop Health, and more than that, the packaging caught my eye because it was familiar.

About a year back my neighbor had locked up and gone out of town for almost a fortnight, and though they’d stopped the newspapers and the milk, these little green and white packets were being left outside the door everyday. After watching them pile up from afar for 3 days I went to see what it was, and was pleasantly surprised because I didn’t know you could have fresh fruit or vegetable juice deposited at your doorstep. One clear instruction on the packets was “use within 7 hours”, so I threw the packets out. I did take down the telephone number to contact them though, hoping to know more, and maybe be good and neighborly and stop the delivery for a few days. As it happens, the number didn’t exist! and so the packets kept being dropped off, earlier than I wake up obviously.
I was sorely tempted to taste one – if I recall right it was carrot juice, but resisted.

Well here they are again. I see these things like signs – I’m SUPPOSED to try them! And at Rs.7 for a 100ml packet it doesn’t seem to extravagant. Probably cheaper to do at home, but well, I never do. Do you?
They offer, according to their site, * Wheatgrass * Carrot * Bottlegourd/Louki/Dudhi Bhopla * Bitter Gourd (Karella) * Tulsi * Beetroot * Aonla * Neem * Ginger Lime * Wheatgrass-Bittergourd Mix and fruits – * Pineapple * Mango * Grapes * Green Mango * Strawberry * Guava * Kokum * Papaya * Apple Milk shake * Chiku Milk Shake.

Must call them! More info when I do…..

Hadn’t had breakfast because my stomach had been acting up a bit last night. But by 10am I was ravenous, and just happened to find myself outside the newly opened Juice Lounge on Dhole Patil Road. I stopped in to look at their menu and finally ordered a orange-strawberry smoothie – ‘California Fun’. The menu said “All smoothies are blended in low fat yogurt” – sounded good to me.

9/10 marks to the smoothie, the only minus being perhaps that it took just too long. Though I’d ordered the regular serving, possibly because I was there alone that early and was carrying it away with me, I got a larger amount than I expected, very substantial though perhaps 69 bucks is a bit steep. On the other hand fruit is getting really expensive these days.
Must remember to try them out more often at home. I used to regularly before, and I’ve got some super recipes here, but lately, just gotten out of the habit.

The house has been looking so beautiful all decorated for Christmas; the small tree, the fairy lights and the wreath. It was my 3 year olds idea, but yes, we just had to have a Christmas party, and we had the extended family over.
Here’s the menu, we had a rather un-Christmas meal – Potato Mayo salad, Chicken Farchas, White rice and Spicy Prawn Curry with Kachumber and easy Chocolate Banana Crepes for dessert.
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Chocolate Banana Crepes Serves 6
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INGREDIENTS
5 bananas at least 6 inches long
2 tablespoons drinking chocolate powder
1 tablespoon coffee
3 tablespoons cinnamon powder
Hershey’s Chocolate Sauce

For the crepes
4 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 banana

PREPARATION
- Beat together all the ingredients for the crepes except the bananas. Mash one banana smoothly and mix in only just before making the crepes.

- Slice the 5 bananas down the center and then chop into 1/2 inch pieces. (more…)

I don’t think there’s any doubt about how much I love crepes and pancakes. But I usually eat them sweet and on their own.
Last Saturday, I looked into the fridge and didn’t see any very interesting stuff, I decided to jazz up our lunch. The lucky vegetable of the day turned out to be the lone cauliflower. Here how it went. For a change I thought to take step by step photographs. Enjoy!
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Savoury Cauliflower Crepes Serves 4
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For the crepes this recipes is perfect but leave out the sugar.

For the mixture
1 Caulifower – broken into small florets to fill 2 cups.
1 small onion, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic
1 small tomato, chopped small
1/2 tsp chilli powder

For the sauce
1 cup milk
1 tsp butter
2 table spoons all purpose flour (maida)
1 cup grated cheese
1/2 tsp pepper
salt to taste

Also mix together in a cup
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon soya sauce
1 teaspoon chilli sauce if you want to add some bite!

PREPARATION
Set the cauliflower to boil in adequate water and a teaspoon of salt.

In 2 teaspoons of oil start sauteing the chopped onions. As they brown, add the garlic after crushing.
Now add the tomato, salt and chilli power and half a cup of water. Let it cook well on low heat.

Meanwhile start making the crepes. Don’t forget to leave out the sugar. Keep them thin, no bigger than about 6 inches in diameter. Set them aside on paper the drain the grease. (more…)