Since summers are here, we know everyone would be cribbing about the weather and how it is so hot during these months of the year. While this is an annual affair, this year you can definitely make some changes in your lifestyle to handle the heat better. Days become longer during this season so it is important that you get up early from the bed and exercise a little. As the day progresses, it will get hotter and sunny which will demotivate you to step out and workout. In fact, it is said that morning workouts are much more effective and keep you fresh all day long. While that is one part of your daily routine that you need to modify, there are also certain tweaks that you should be making in your diet.
Ditch the thick and luscious aloo parathas or bread pakoras in summers. These oily and greasy foods not only make you lethargic but also produce heat in the body, making you uncomfortable during the day. Doctors and medical professionals recommend that we keep our bodies hydrated at all times and consume liquids as much as possible. Replenishing the body with water is essential but at the same time, it is also important to consume foods that are rich in water. Fruits and vegetables that have high water content allow the body to get nutrition along with water. If you think that the Indian cuisine is only full of heavy and rich food, you’re mistaken. You will find a plethora of light and refreshing meals that can be consumed during summer.
Since the start of the day marks the way it will pass by, breakfast is quite important. Here are some summer-special breakfast recipes from the Indian fare that are perfect for this season.
1. Curd Rice
A simple and light preparation that is very popular in South India, curd rice is the best way to beat the heat. Creamy, thick and fresh curd is simply mixed with beaten rice like chiwda and served with some seasoning. A mix of chana and urad dal, along with spices like cumin, mustard seeds, red chilli etc are tossed in oil and garnished on the curd rice mixture. Add some ginger and coriander leaves to this and sprinkle salt. This is great for indigestion too.
2. Masala Chaas
Sometimes, you don’t feel like eating or prepping anything in the morning. During this time, a refreshing beverage can come to your rescue. Made with buttermilk, chaas is a salty cousin of lassi. It is thinner in consistency and the churned buttermilk is mixed with water and spiced up with a special masala made of green chillies, ginger, cumin and chaat masala. The chaas is topped with some crunchy boondi and mint leaves.
3. Mixed Vegetable And Fruit Salad
No, salad is not just meant to sit at the corner of the table during meals, being passed around once in a while. You can even have a filling salad breakfast and not feel hungry at all. Crunchy seasonal vegetables should be included in the salad. You can take lettuce, broccoli, green onions, mung bean sprouts and plenty of other veggies. Add to this some chopped watermelon, muskmelon, papaya and any other fruit of your choice and enjoy.
4. Dadpe Pohe
A simple and healthy meal for one from Maharashtra, poha is a staple breakfast in the region. However, the distinction in this recipe lies in the use of crunchy and flaky poha or flat beaten rice. The poha is mixed with chopped onions, green chillies, mustard seeds, peanuts and coriander leaves. This is a delicious breakfast dish.
5. Oats Cheela
The overnight soaked oats are mixed with gram flour. This balances the nutrition of the dish. The Indian pancake is then cooked by pouring the batter in a pan and eating it with fresh mint and coriander chutney.
