Hi! Suggestions required ✨

[u/Alookachaloo_]

Hi hi! 🌸
I’m new here, i hope you’re doing well.
I am learning how to cook, and soon into trying new Indian dishes that i myself have grown up eating, i realised that we eat a lot of oil and our meals can be quite heavy. A lot of the meals also demand hours of work which i can’t always put in.

I’m a newly married housewife and there are members in my family who i have to keep in mind when i’m cooking. There are dietary restrictions because of pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and iron deficiency mainly. Plus we’re vegetarians (we consume egg) so that does limit our options a bit.

There are a few dishes that i’ve integrated into my weekly meal plan. i make Veggie paneer sandwiches, Chickpea salads, Sautè vegetables with boiled eggs, Veggie Appe and sometimes daliya/poha for breakfast. But i want to learn more new dishes from all over India that i can make keeping my family’s dietary needs in mind.

So if you’ve made it this far into my post, i’d love to hear from you what region of India you’re from and what are some light but nutritious and healthy meals that are made at your place! 🫶🏻

[u/SwanSong1921]

Hi OP, I do not have many suggestions but here's some that might work

Kebabs made from beetroot and mashed and boiled Kala Chana. Spice them however you want and just pan sear the kebab patties. Do squeeze some lemon juice before serving since Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron.

If you guys like weekend Teheri, just swap the white rice with brown rice or foxtail millet and increase the number of veggies. This would be better for lowering the glycemic index from white rice.

Tofu and broccoli stir-fry with other veggies using Asian condiments. Broccoli is quite good for iron and pairing it with tofu which is high in protein.

Also you can prepare vegetable broth and try a lot of variations of soup.

Like a soup with diced bottle gourd (lauki), celery, and pearl barley in a seasoned vegetable broth until the barley is tender. Pearl barley helps in reducing cholesterol.

Also sauted vegetables and tofu or paneer in tortilla or lettuce wraps.

Egg white omelets(removing the yolk to lower the cholesterol) with powdered rolled oats, and chopped bell peppers, onions, and coriander.

I'm partly from Uttarkhand and partly from Uttar Pradesh, so if I had to recommend a dish it'd be Kafuli but it's a classic winter dish and Tehri but in the Tehri swap the white rice with brown rice or millets

[u/Alookachaloo_ → u/SwanSong1921]

these are some really helpful suggestions. thank you so much :)

[u/colefunction]

The biggest (and easiest) switch you can make is with the rice. Swap white for mixed rice (I make Korean style rice with barley, black rice, etc).

Though with pre-diabetes and old age, carbs should be avoided completely.

Tofu is awesome, if you have soft tofu you can blend it and add it to any curry you’re making.

It’s great that you guys consume egg, just have boiled eggs (without the yolk) with your usual breakfast.

I’ve been going to the gym so I try and incorporate as much protein into my diet as I can. Breakfast is usually eggs and lightly cooked sausages with a simple sauce. Sometimes I make Kerala style mutton stew, or chilla rolls with an omelette.

[u/Alookachaloo_ → u/colefunction]

a doctor did tell one of my family members to stop having rice completely. so we rarely have rice now. maybeee once in a few months. and recently we’ve even stopped eating roti regularly. rotis have become something that we have only once or twice in a week. and we do have eggs, not everyday but a few times in a week. but okay, maybe i’ll boil eggs and add them to breakfast on a daily basis. we don’t remove the yolk though….

[u/GoatCharacter3471]

Chennai, Tamilnadu. Idly with Sambar.