Lockdown is a period to explore oneself. Do not use it as an excuse for eating crap and not engaging in any kind of physical activity. Although not allowed to go out of home, one can do whatever you feel comfortable with, for example, yoga, jumping, skipping, or simple household work like mopping the floor, in the same manner, the way our predecessors used to do. Follow some good online or live workouts to stay active and form best habits. Staying home all day does not mean eating during odd hours. Fix meal timings and make a day’s menu in advance to stop craving.
Let us look at the positive side of lockdown – eating 100% home-cooked fresh meals as everyone is having ample time to cook fresh. But diet planning on a daily basis is essential as we know diet depends upon the physiological condition, geographical location, and largely on activity levels. So plan wisely what to eat, when to eat, and what portion to eat. Plan meals, including snacks, a day in advance to avoid making wrong food choices. Taking the call of health has never been more important than it is right now. Thankfully we are getting all the essentials at our doorstep. Do not panic and do not hoard vegetables and groceries. Do not stock up the kitchen with processed foods, rather try recipes with minimum ingredients. Limit carbohydrate intake as all are comparatively sedentary.
Ditch all the fried and refined foods and try tasty and healthy snacking options with all family members.
Makhana bhel -- Dry roast makhanas, added with chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumber, green chilly and coriander. Add salt, chat masala, peanuts and lemon juice.
Fruit raita -- Instead of having raita along with meal have it as a mid-morning snack with a fruit-like apple/pomegranate/grapes. Do not add sugar
Masala papad -- Cook papad on Tava and keep aside, add chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumber, green chilly and coriander. Add salt, chaat masala, and lemon juice. Enjoy crispy papad.
Nutty puffed rice -- Dry roast puffed rice in a pan for 8- 10 min, add walnuts and mix seeds and roast for another 5 min. Turn off flame and have it as a mid-morning or tea time snack.
Creamy kidney beans and cabbage salad -- mix boiled kidney beans and cabbage. Add hung curd, salt, and pepper
Other healthy and tasty options in this period of lockdown are rajma quinoa, chia pudding, fruit salad, dhokla, khichdi, quinoa salad / pulav, idli sambhar, dal cheelas, tandoori parantha, healthy baking options like cakes made up of wheat flour and honey/jaggery, paneer/gobhi tikka etc.
With the weather getting hot, it is important to keep oneself hydrated, but always be careful while choosing summer beverages. Fruit juices seem tempting to many but people with diabetes mellitus, PCOS, and obesity can spike up their blood sugar levels with even ½ a glass of fruit juice and worsen the already existing problem. There is a saying that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Let us use these 21 days to form the habits we never got time for. Nature is forcing us to slow down, to re-evaluate what we are doing to live. It's teaching us what is truly important.
Be calm and kind to PLANET.
Stay in and help the government and health professionals to do their job.
Stay in. Stay safe. Keep healthy.