Breakfast - A Healthy Start To A Healthy Day

Breakfast a healthy start to a healthy morning. The first meal of the day, a power packed meal to keep you going all day.

   Break - Fast, you break the fast every morning after starving your body for the entire night. Well, it might be the most important meal of the day, but a few of us, actually most of us tend to skip it due to our busy schedules. Let me give you the reasons to indulge in this healthy meal without fail!

  Our body is similar to a car, more fuel, more mileage. For the proper functioning of our body, we need the right nutrients in the right proportions (A Balanced Diet), at the right time. A balanced diet includes foods rich in carbs, protein, fat & fibers and that in turn keeps our mileage up & going.

A huge problem in our country today is the issue of obesity, well the obvious reason being, improper food consumption, at improper timings and most importantly no workout as such. Most Indians, young and old are in a constant race towards something and in this race, the basic nutrients required by our body, is just another chore. A common problem, also being due to fast food, as that's the only option of food for people in a race. Your mind accepts it as food but, due to the loss of nutrients, your body ends up taking the beat. This impacts us in a big way, causing various diseases & ailments in our body. “We take care of our body, our body takes care of us!”

A healthy diet rich in vegetables, millets, meat ,egg, grains, fruits, etc is a must for every individual. The basic habit of a healthy diet starts at school, where kids get into the habit of a healthy packed lunch at right timings. Most kids nowadays don't get the required nutrients as their breakfast has become more on the lines of fast food. This causes a major problem to their immune system and eventually becomes a habit. A good meal will help students stay more focused in class, physical, mental & social well being depends on this. The saying eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dine like a pauper is on opposite poles in our country and in most cases, the first meal is skipped.

Is there a healthier alternative that can be adapted to our fast society and what is this healthy food is very delicious too. Well, Soulfull is the answer. Soulfull is a ragi based healthy package that makes breakfast fun, fast & healthy. Ragi is a millet (Finger Millet). Its power packed food grown in India, rich in calcium, iron and fibres. Millets are gluten free and provide our body with a lot of energy and nutrition.

  Soulfull has delicious Breakfast Cereals, Ragi Bites, Dosa and Idly mixes. The ragi original cereal does not contain sugar and is good for all age groups especially for people with diabetes. All Soulfull products are made with the finest quality of ragi for a healthier you. Switch to this healthier breakfast option, stay healthy and charged up all day. Grab a pack of Soulfull TODAY! 

   This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.in.

Power snacks for children during exams

Exam time means buckling down for hours with just a few short breaks.

As discussed in an earlier blog, exams are a stressful time for both children and parents. But right nutrition can help in improving concentration in studies. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that children are eating right during exams. Short and healthy snacks for time-outs are a must-have.

 

Here are a few nutritious yet easy-to-make snack ideas:

* Yogurt with sliced fruit or berries: Yogurt's protein combined with slow-burning sugars in fruits and berries ensures that your child's brain gets the right kind of nutrition.

* Five-ingredient Granola Bar: Oats, almonds, dates, peanut butter and honey together make a compact health boost for kids.

* Protein Dosa: Dosa made of Adai, or a combination of four dals, is as healthy as it can get. Rich in iron and protein, this Dosa is a great anytime snack

* Paneer wrap: Paneer (cottage cheese), cream cheese, lettuce, tomato and cucumbers wrapped in chapati. Top it up with some Soulfull's original flakes for an all-around solid and yummy snack.

*  Ragi fills: Soulfull's Ragi fills are not only high in protein and fiber but taste great too. You can serve it with cold milk, or serve it as a nutritious snack.

* Idli: Idli is another very healthy option for kids. Made out rice and lentils, Idli will keep the child feeling full for long.

* Smoothie: Use a combination of any of these ingredients: low-fat yogurt, frozen berries, fresh fruit (bananas, mango, pineapple), fruit juice and honey.

* Whole grain sandwich: Use peanut butter, cheese and veggies to create a larger snack that will slow burn all day. Throw in some Soulfull flakes for a better taste.

Extra sugary, carb-loaded foods such as cookies and chips may give kids a quick fix but the spike in energy will be short-lived, leaving the child feeling groggy and tired. It is not a good idea when your brain is already being challenged. Proteins, however, fuels the brain. Experts recommend loading up on lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains for optimum clarity.

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.in.

International Women's Day: Celebrating working mothers

Motherhood is arguably the most challenging, stressful, fulfilling, glorious and important job in the world! Gone are the days when moms were home and kitchen bound. Women, now-a-days, not only handle home and a career but manage a complete overall personal growth. 

Due to this struggle of juggling home and career, many women, of late, have become a victim of obesity and poor fitness regime. Women face a lot of difficulties associated with their health due to lack of exercise and proper physical workouts.

Along with looking after the well-being of everyone else in the family, here are some useful tips which working mothers can use to stay healthy and fit:

* Store your house with healthy snacks and eat a full and healthy breakfast.

* Stay active throughout the day. Start the day with exercise and create an effective exercise pattern and include walking on treadmill, crunches etc. Also, chart the slow but effective progress. Do not overdo anything. 

* Reduce refined carbohydrate intake.

* Drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Dehydration leads to fatigue and weakness.

* Be happy. Laughing or just being happy releases hormones that help reduce stress hormones, cortisol.

* Every once in a while, take a break and pamper yourself in a spa or a beauty salon.

* A good night sleep is essential for the hectic day. A minimum of 6-8 hours is necessary.

Balancing between being a family person and a working woman is one of the most rewarding and exhausting jobs in the world. You are doing something or the other and are on duty 24*7, with no off weekends or sick days. It is easy to focus on kids and neglect yourself, but that is not good for either them or you. 

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.in.

Tips on exam-time nutrition for kids

When preparing for exams, good nutrition and health often slides down the priority list. It has been observed, that even the kids who usually eat healthy, end up eating a lot of junk food and drink pots of coffee to stay awake during exam time. 

The right food and drink can energise the child's system, improve alertness and sustain the child through long exam hours. 

Here's listing a few tried-and-tested tips to help children meet the required nutrition level during exams:

* Don’t let the child skip meals, specially breakfast. Start the day with a heavy and healthy breakfast.

* Keep the child hydrated but no caffeine. Water, juice, milk, buttermilk are the best and healthiest options.

* Time is of the essence during exams. Choose easy-to-make and healthy meals. Stick to frequent, small meals and include proteins in their diet.

* Make sure the child gets food which will help him/her in memory enhancement and stress-busting. Give him/her food that helps in increasing efficiency of the brain.

* Make sure the child gets enough sleep to be able to perform optimally during exams. 

Examination phase is equally stressful for both children and parents. But right eating and right nutrition can help to improve concentration in studies. Nutritionists recommend a high-fiber breakfast for individuals of all ages. Ragi is high in dietary fibre, and aids digestion and prevents over-eating. 

We recomend Soulfull's deliciously healthy breakfast options, from  an array of wholesome Ragi cereal that are plain to fruit flavoured Ragi cereal to exciting chocolate filled Ragi fills. These Ragi-based breakfast cereals from Soulfull, are a great way to keep your family healthy and happy.

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.in.

Six quirky gift ideas for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here and you are still wondering what will be the best gift for your partner this year? Sure, you could go the obvious route and spring for flowers, chocolates and a romantic dinner. But what if your partner expects you to come up with something different? Here are some quirkier options for V-Day:

* Instead of buying some gift that your partner may or may not like, why not gift a craftily designed coupon toward whatever he/she wants! Give these to your loved ones to fill out and make sure they are getting exactly what they want this year.

* Framing a picture sounds too cheesy and cliched? Then get the geographical coordinates of the exact spot you met each other, immortalised in the form of a stylish, graphic print. It's romantic but so subtle only your partner and you know what it means.

* Make a difference and sponsor/adopt a rescued animal. Take care of the pet together like small child and it'll help you in strengthening your own bond.

* Another gift idea, you ask? Well how about giving your partner the motivation to stick to the New Year resolution of losing weight by gifting a gym-membership. Start with a three-month membership and let her/him extend the membership. It's a Valentine Day gift, no way your partner will ignore it.

* The smartphone reducing your partners attention span on you? To show her/him how much you care, create a one-day website and upload your favorite videos together, a romantic note or a photo collage of your relationship timeline. 

* Why not name a star after your partner? Sounds impossible, but it's actually not! Imagine walking hand-in-hand with your partner and you stop, look up and point to the star and tell him/her that the star is named after him/her! Naming a star is far more romantic and quirky than buying roses!

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.co.in.

Traditional and healthy Indian breakfast on Republic Day

On the occasion of the 66th Republic Day to be celebrated on 26th January, 2015, we bring you healthy and traditional Indian ideas for breakfast:

Adai Dosa: This is as healthy as it can get. The Adai , or the lentil Dosa is a combination of FOUR dals or dried pulse (lentils) : Toor dal, moong dal, urad dal and channa dal. All of this makes adai rich in iron. It is very simple to prepare. It goes well with avial, chutney, jaggery and butter. Click here to get Soulfull's Instant Adai Dosa Mix.

Ragi Dosa: Finger millet, famous as Ragi in India, is rich in calcium, protein, iron and a great source of fiber. It is good for diabetic patients as well. It is generally milled into flour and then used to make ragi dosa. Click here to get Soulfull's Instant Ragi Dosa Mix. 

Rava Dosa: Rava dosa is a very popular South Indian breakfast and easy to prepare. A derivative of Dosa, this is a kind of Indian crepe. Normal dosa takes pre-planning and fermenting but Rava dosa takes 30 minutes to ferment and is easier to make. 

Click here to get Soulfull's Instant Rava Dosa Mix.

Dalia: Dalia, also known as cracked or broken wheat, is an excellent source of fiber and low in fat. Preparing dalia with vegetables and makes it more nutritious and delicious and is a great addition to the diet. It is not only healthy but also a filling breakfast recipe. 

Idli: Idli is South India's most popular breakfast and a very healthy dish. Idli's are made by steaming a batter of fermented black lentils and rice. The fermentation process breaks down the starches so that they are more readily metabolised and digested by the body. Click here to get Soulfull's Instant Idli Dosa Mix.

Rava Idli: South Indian cuisine is known for its healthy recipes. Rava idli, or suji idli, is one such healthy and simple recipe which combines the goodness of dals and spices. It’s not just healthy and irresistible but also very easy to prepare. Nothing can beat the taste of authentic soft and fluffy home-made idlis. 

Click here to get Soulfull's Instant Rava Idli Dosa Mix.  

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.co.in.

Try Millets, this Harvester's Festival!

Makar sankranti or the harvester's festival is celebrated for the happiness of getting new crops for farmers. As we celebrate makar sankranti, we are going to look into one of the most important agricultural crops in India, which are also a very good source of nutrition - Millets.

Millets have been, throughout history, a very good source of plant food for humans and livestock. The young junk-eating generation has forgotten the likes of natural health food which leads to a variety of health problems. But for people who are still health conscious and looking for better alternatives to reduce their daily 'junk'consumption, millets are like wonder grains. Doctors and nutritionists vouch for their high nutritional value.

Millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains. They can be consumed by people in the form of pilafs, snacks and cookies too. India is a major contributor in the global market for millet cultivation. Millets are also widely grown in Africa and Northern china. 

Types of millets:

*Little Millet – These type of millets can be cooked and consumed like rice. Also comes in semolina and flour form and used to make roti, dosa and bread. They have the highest fat content of all the millets and a good level of protein.

*Fox tail Millet – Like little millet, fox tail millet too can be cooked and consumed like rice and the semolina and flour can be used as roti, dosa and idli. They have the highest mineral content and second highest in the world production of all the millets.

*Finger Millet (Ragi) – Staple grain in Africa and India, these have the highest calcium content in all the millets. They can be consumed as porridge, roti, dosa, mudde, payasam.

*Barnyard Millet – These are the fastest growing millet, producing yield in 6 weeks. They have the highest fibre and iron content of all the millets.

*Kodo Millet – High fibre and energy content, they are ideal for diabetics and can also be consumed as rice.

*Proso Millet – They have the highest protein content and very high in carbohydrates.

*Sorghum – Known as jowar, these hardy grain can be consumed in the form of flat breads and porridge. They have a good protein, carbohydrate and energy content.

*Pearl Millet – India is the largest producer of pearl millets, commonly known as bajra. They are very high in protein and energy content and used in rotis and porridge. They can also be cooked and consumed like rice.

Health benefits of millets:

Millets are rich in Protein, fibre, calcium, Iron and Minerals. They help in reducing cholesterol, lower blood pressure and help in the development and repair of body cells and tissues. They help in reducing the risk of Type-2 Diabetes especially for women. They are great for people looking for weight loss, diabeties and cardiac patients. The high insoluble fibre helps to prevent Gallstones formation. Pre-menopausal women eating millets have a reduced breast cancer risk. They have a higher nutritional values when compared with rice and wheat.

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.co.in.

After-holiday diet or weight loss

All the partying and socialising during the holiday season takes a toll on the body and metabolism. All the eating and drinking add that extra inch to your waistline. Even the most disciplined of people struggle with the temptations of indulging during the festivities.

 

An after-holiday diet helps you in getting back to the shape you were in. Here are some after-holiday tips and tricks that can be introduced in your everyday schedule:

Detox and drink lots of water/fluids: Start the days after a hectic party schedule to detox yourself with some fruits and drink lots of fluids specially water and fruit juice. Have a bowl of chopped fruit for breakfast or make a smoothie with yogurt . Drinking water also keeps you from getting dehydrated.

 

Exercise but set realistic goals: Losing up to a kilogram in a week is good. Before you set out to lose more weight, remember that consistency and perseverance are the keys to a long term weight loss programme. Trying to lose weight overnight in not possible.

 

Do not starve yourself, replace rice with protein: Right after the holidays, deprivation because of guilt is a bad idea. The terrible effects on metabolism that under-eating has, has always been underestimated. Eat healthy and normally. Also, do not make too many changes in your diet at once. Like exercising, heavy and sudden dieting is also not suggested. It will only lead to frustration. Increasing the protein and fiber content in your diet, are the best options, that accelerate your weight loss programme.

Ragi flakes, porridge, oatmeal, muesli, low-fat yogurt, Idli, Adai Dosa, Ragi Dosa are good options for the dieting lot. Ensure that the carbohydrates you consume are good carbs. Ragi is high in fiber, and has a slow digestion rate. Ragi releases energy through the day , and is great as a breakfast option.

 

Switch to a healthy lifestyle in 2015. Soulfull would love to be a part of your journey. Please drop in notes, or other pointers that you may have.

This blog is powered by Soulfull. Soulfull now lets you have the wholesome goodness of Ragi, every morning through its deliciously Healthy Breakfast Cereals, Idlis and Dosas! The easiest way to stock up on Soulfull's array of healthy breakfast products is by visiting the e-portal at www.soulfull.co.in.