A weight loss diet requires a lot of care and planning. When searching for food ideas, we often come across recommendations for fancy and exotic ingredients. But before you end up spending an exorbitant amount on imported and fancy foods, take a look around your kitchen. Many everyday desi ingredients can work wonders for weight management. And we're not just talking about fruits and veggies. Today, let us highlight how good old paneer can help you shed those extra kilos. We have also provided cooking suggestions to ensure you get the maximum health benefits.
Why Paneer (Cottage Cheese) Is Good For Weight Loss:
1. Great source of protein
According to the USDA, 100 grams of cottage cheese typically contains 11 gm of protein. This makes paneer an excellent source of vegetarian protein. Those on a weight loss diet are often advised to load up on high-protein foods as they can help promote satiety and curb cravings.
2. Low in calories and carbohydrates
Photo Credit: iStock
Paneer is relatively low in calories, especially if it is not made of full-fat milk. Its carbohydrate count is also not high. While carbohydrates are not inherently bad, those wanting to lose weight need to monitor their consumption of it.
3. Contains healthy fats
Cottage cheese contains fats that are good for you and has a very small amount of saturated fat.
4. Rich in nutrients and minerals
Eating paneer provides you with calcium, potassium and selenium. These are essential for your overall health and can also help with your weight loss goals.
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How To Consume Paneer For Weight Loss: 5 Healthy And Delicious Ideas
1. Enjoy it raw
One of the best things about paneer is that it doesn't need to be cooked in order to be eaten safely. This makes it stand out from most other sources of protein. Just cut the cottage cheese into small pieces, sprinkle a little homemade masala on them, and enjoy!
2. Mix it with your salads
Add a little paneer to your salads to give them a yummy upgrade. Photo Credit: iStock
Give your salads a nutritious and delicious twist by adding some paneer to them. Paneer doesn't have a strong flavour of its own, so it can be easily combined with many ingredients. It also soaks dressings quite well and can thus enhance the juicy freshness of your salad. Here's a desi-style salad recipe for inspiration.
3. Add it to your breakfast
Get a protein boost right in the morning by making cottage cheese a part of your breakfast. This is especially for those who cannot or do not eat eggs for breakfast. A yummy option is veg paneer bhurji (recipe here).
4. Use it as a stuffing
Paneer can be used as a filling for healthy rolls. Photo Credit: iStock
Paneer also makes a great base for stuffings for parathas, cheelas and roti rolls. You can simply mix it with chaat masala or make more elaborate fillings by combining it with veggies and various spices. The result with be extra wholesome and tasty stuffed parathas/cheelas/rolls that you are sure to relish.
5. Make specific types of snacks and appetisers
Choose to bake or grill paneer rather than frying it. Photo Credit: iStock
When we think of paneer snacks, what often comes to mind is paneer pakoras and the like. But you need to stay away from deep-fried food items. Paneer tastes amazing when grilled or baked. By controlling the amount of oil used, you can ensure that you keep the overall calorie count of the dish low. To get you started, we recommend baked sesame paneer. Click here for the recipe. Another good option is pan-fried paneer tikkis. Find the recipe here.
Having paneer as part of a main course meal can be tricky because the most common options tend to be high in calories. Paneer dishes for lunch and dinner tend to include rich gravies and other preparations that have a fair amount of oil, cream, etc. Such dishes would not aid with weight loss and hence should be consumed only on rare occasions.
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.