World Nutrition Day is celebrated on 28th May every year. It is an initiative supported by many institutions across the world including the Spanish Federation of Societies of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics (FESNAD). Nutrition is of the utmost importance, especially in the times that we are living today. The importance of good nutrients in the diet cannot be stated enough for maintaining the body's overall health and wellbeing. "New realities mean that we need to look at food and diet in a new way. It's important to restrict one's diet without compromising on nutrition. Nutrition is key," said Consultant Nutritionist Ishi Khosla.
Celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija also agrees on the same. "Your body is like a car, it needs fuel to function. This fuel is balanced nutrition and there are five fingers to nutrition. The fingers include carbs, proteins, fats and finally vitamins and minerals. Within these food groups, you can make smart choices about the grains, lean protein, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables you eat daily," says Makhija.
The primary key to good health is eating a balanced diet. But more often than not, our diets tend to focus on a certain group of nutrients, leaving out others. Even in our home meals, we tend to leave out essential vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients from our preparations. These are integral to our health as much as other nutrients that constitute a balanced meal.
Here Are 5 Expert Tips To Give Your Meal A Nutritional Boost:
1. For Better Immunity
The journey to better nutrition through enhanced immunity is just a few ingredients away. There are a number of immunity-boosting spices that can be added to the diet. Consultant Nutritionist Ishi Khosla recommends, "We should include immunity-boosting food like aloe vera, tulsi and coconut oil in our diet. One must replace sugar with low calorie sweeteners and keep hydrating!"
(Also Read: 6 Immunity Boosting Foods That You'll Easily Find At Home)
2. Lesser Meals, More Nutrition
Another idea that experts suggest is to cut down the number of meals in a day, but to ensure that each meal is packed nutritionally. This is specially important in the hot summer months when we largely stay indoors. "When our movements get curtailed, our appetite falls but cravings increase. We shouldn't give in to those cravings and ensure that our intake is instead replaced by healthier, more nutritious foods," explains Khosla.
3. Chutney: The Natural Health Supplement
There is a reason behind the lip-smacking chutneys and pickles that our grandmothers and mothers make. Apart from putting a delicious spin to our meals, the chutneys also function as a natural health supplement due to their high nutrient value. Make a rejuvenating green chutney with herbs like mint, coriander etc and revitalise your senses.
(Also Read: Four Chutneys That Must Be Paired With South Indian Food)
4. Probiotics Are Essential
Dal, roti and sabzi are one of the key components of a complete Indian meal. These balance out each other and are completely satisfying and fulfilling. However, the addition of probiotics is also integral to having a nutritious meal. Whether it is dahi, or some delicious masala chaas, try and incorporate these healthy gut bacteria in your daily diet.
5. More Vegetables And Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are key to our diet, but very often they cease to be part of our meals. Fun ways to include these nutrient powerhouses in our diet includes making a healthy salad, or even incorporating fruits and veggies in your dahi in the form of a delicious raita. Top up your khichdi or dali preparation with some chopped, sauteed vegetables. Similarly for fruits - celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija says, "There's no time limit for good nutrition. You can enjoy your fruits anytime of the day. Your digestive system is always prepared to absorb the nutrients from fruits whenever you decide to eat them."
(Also Read: 5 Vegetable Raita Recipes You Must Try This Summer Season)
Celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija also said that the ultimate goal to make meals nutritionally dense is to lose weight. "Eat to lose weight. Eating small meals throughout the day keeps your metabolism stable and supports the calorie burning process. If you keep large gaps then you will land up having large meals, always remember if you will eat the right food at the right time, you can easily say no to the wrong food especially at the wrong time," concluded Makhija.