Home-cooked food is a great way to lose weight! Try it once… The results will definitely amaze you!
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Here, you will get multiple ways to lose weight, that too by having purely home-cooked food. Yes, you heard me right… Everything you need to lose weight is inside your house only(unless and until you are living in India. ;-p). You don’t even have to step out and search outside.
As we all know our Indian cuisine is known for its flavorful spices and herbs, which not only add taste to the food but also have numerous health benefits. One of the main advantages of eating home-cooked food is that you have control over the ingredients and the cooking methods used. This means that you can choose healthier options and avoid processed and deep-fried foods.
Here are some tips to help you lose weight by eating Indian home-cooked meals:
- Include a variety of vegetables
- Use healthy cooking methods
- Limit your intake of rice and wheat
- Choose lean proteins
- Don’t forget about spices
- Portion control is important
- Don’t skip meals
- Stay hydrated
- Get active
- Don’t forget to enjoy your food
- Seek support
- Make healthy swaps
- Avoid eating out
- Plan ahead
- Experiment with different spices and herbs
- Eat slowly
- Limit added sugars and salt
- Make healthy snack choices
- Get enough sleep
- Don’t be too hard on yourself
- Find a balance
- Don’t forget about mental health
1. Include a variety of vegetables
In India, we have a wide range of vegetables to choose from, tinda, lauki, potato, onion, beans, tomato, mushrooms, capsicum, tendli, french beans, pumpkin, cauliflower, sweet corn, leaf vegetables, carrot, frozen peas, cucumber, gourd, parwal, brinjal, bitter gourd, beetroot, green chili, etc. They all have nutritional values; such as okra, eggplant, peas, and spinach are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals which help you feel full for longer.
2. Use healthy cooking methods
Instead of deep frying, opt for healthier cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, or grilling. You can also use healthier oils such as olive oil or coconut oil instead of unhealthy oils like vegetable oil.
3. Limit your intake of rice and wheat
While rice and wheat are staples in an Indian diet, they can contribute to weight gain if consumed in large quantities. Instead, opt for healthier grains such as quinoa, millet (‘Bajari’ or ‘बाजरी’), or oats.
4. Choose lean proteins
Indian food has a wide range of protein options, such as chicken, fish, lentils, and tofu. Choose lean proteins and avoid heavy sauces and gravies.
5. Don’t forget about spices
Indian cuisine is known for its flavorful spices such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander. These spices not only add flavor to the food but also have numerous health benefits.
6. Portion control is important
It’s easy to overeat when you have tasty Indian food in front of you. To avoid this, be mindful of portion sizes and try to stick to recommended serving sizes. You can use smaller plates to help control your portions.
7. Don’t skip meals
We think that if we skip meals, it will lower the calories; but actually, it backfires! Staying hungry increases fats in your body. When you skip meals, you may feel hungrier later and be more likely to overeat. Always have a goal to eat regular and balanced meals throughout the day. Because it will keep your hunger in control.
8. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is important for weight loss as it helps flush out toxins and keep your body hydrated. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day, and consider adding some slices of lemon or cucumber for added flavor.
9. Get active
While diet plays a crucial role in weight loss, physical activity is also important. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day, such as walking, jogging, or dancing. Being active helps boost your metabolism and also helps to burn calories.
10. Don’t forget to enjoy your food
Weight loss doesn’t have to be a chore. While it’s important to be mindful of your diet, it’s also important to enjoy the food you are eating. Take the time to savor each bite and appreciate the flavors of your home-cooked Indian meals.
11. Seek support
We have to agree that the Weight loss mission is challenging. So, always try to ask for help and support from friends, family, or a healthcare professional. Consider joining a support group or working with a registered dietitian to help you stay on track and reach your goals.
12. Make healthy swaps
If you have a favorite Indian dish that is high in calories or unhealthy ingredients, try to find ways to make healthier swaps. For example, you can use low-fat yogurt instead of heavy cream in Raita, or use tofu instead of paneer in palak paneer.
13. Avoid eating out
While eating at restaurants can be convenient, it’s often difficult to control the ingredients and cooking methods used. To ensure that you are eating healthy, home-cooked meals, try to avoid eating out as much as possible. If you do eat out, choose restaurants that offer healthier options and be mindful of portion sizes.
14. Plan ahead
To ensure that you have healthy meals on hand, it can be helpful to plan ahead and prepare meals in advance. Consider cooking a large batch of food on the weekends and storing it in the fridge or freezer for the week ahead. This will save you time and help you stick to your weight loss goals.
15. Experiment with different spices and herbs
Indian spices and herbs are known for their wide range and there are many different flavor combinations to explore. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs to find flavors that you enjoy. This will help keep your meals interesting and help you stay motivated on your weight loss journey.
16. Eat slowly
Overeating can contribute to weight gain, and one way to avoid this is to eat slowly. Taking your time to eat allows your body to register feelings of fullness and can help you stop eating when you are satisfied, rather than overfull.
17. Limit added sugars and salt
While Indian food can be flavorful and delicious, it can also be high in added sugars and salt. To keep your meals healthier, try to limit your intake of added sugars and salt. You can also use herbs and spices to add flavor to your meals instead of relying on sugar and salt.
18. Make healthy snack choices
Snacking can be a healthy and enjoyable part of any weight loss plan, as long as you choose healthy options. Avoid reaching for cookies, samosa, wada-pav, pizza bites, burger, potato chips, finger chips, bread snacks, aloo bhujia, potato snacks, khari biscuit, mathri, chicken snacks, paneer snacks, nachos chips, sweet snacks, bakarwadi, diwali snacks, cheese snacks, chocolate snacks.
Instead of these, try snacking on fruits, vegetables, nuts, roasted makhana, apple snacks, diet snacks, and baked snacks. These options are high in nutrients and will help keep you satisfied between meals.
You can also try traditional less oily, and spicy snacks from the place you belong to. For example, Pohe is a traditional breakfast in Maharashtra. Idli sambar, Dosa chutney, and Onion uttapam are traditional food items of South India.
19. Get enough sleep
In addition to diet and exercise, getting enough sleep is important for weight loss and overall health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, as lack of sleep can lead to increased hunger and cravings.
20. Don’t be too hard on yourself
Losing weight can be a challenge, and it’s important to be kind to yourself and not get too discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Remember that weight loss takes time and that it’s normal to have ups and downs. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and try to stay positive and motivated.
21. Find a balance
While it’s important to be mindful of your diet and make healthy choices, it’s also important to find a balance and not deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy. It’s okay to indulge in your favorite treats every once in a while, as long as you do so in moderation.
22. Don’t forget about mental health
Losing weight is not just about physical health, but also about mental health. It’s important to take care of your mental well-being and seek help if you are struggling with negative thoughts or feelings.
And don’t forget…
Eating Indian home-cooked meals can be a delicious and effective way to lose weight. Also, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious Indian home-cooked meals that will help you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
By following these tips and making healthy swaps, you will also be able to enjoy the flavors of Indian cuisine while losing weight and improving your overall health.
Remember to be patient and consistent, as weight loss takes time and requires a sustained effort. With a little planning and determination, you can reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
But if you are not able to follow these tips just because you cannot get home-cooked food daily (you may be living far away from your home); or you are not able to ask your Maa to help, try asking Myma – home-cooked food serving app. Here on the Myma platform, you will definitely get purely home-cooked food as it’s cooked by a Maa or Mother…
And be assured about getting healthy food from the Myma app as Myma (Mother or Housewife or Chef) serves the same food, she has cooked for her family and children.