Diet For Modern Lifestyles

पुरणपोळी Mug cake

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 06:27:00 +0000

पुरणपोळी Mug cake*

शुक्रवार, २५ जुलै २०२५
श्रावण शुद्ध प्रतिपदा

It was a cozy and a Rainy afternoon in July.... And this just started as a sudden urge to eat something warm and soothing...
Something that just melts in your mouth and is a perfect comfort food.... The aroma of which evokes memories and eating it will bring pure Joy in the Moment....

Since both my kids now live away from me, looking for Healthy and Nutritious options of One dish meals and Mug meals has become a newer and current hobby....

I thought that a Mug cake would be a perfect option to fulfill both the above requirements...
So, I pulled up the recepie for a Choco lava mug cake that I have used previously. After going through the ingredients, I felt another urge to add, replace and/or eliminate things to make it more nutritious in the real sense....

One thing lead to another and the recepie that came into being brought pure Esctasy and Nostalgia 💖🌟✨

Yesterday was the first day of श्रावण, luckily, a Friday too... So, this is the first time ever, that I offered a Mug cake as a प्रसाद 😀🙏🏻 and felt really happy about it too.

The पुरणपोळी Mug cake turned out superb and I am sure it will work really well for many people who are looking for Healthy, Nutritious, Quick recepies but still have preference for Traditional taste.

Sharing the recepie with all of you.... Do try it and would love to hear your feedback too.

*पुरणपोळी Mug cake*

1 part पंढरपुरी डाळं+ almond powder
1 part whole wheat flour
1 part organic jaggery
1 part clarified butter/ साजूक तूप
1 part milk
Saffron, cardamom powder and Nutmeg powder according to taste
1-2 pinch sea salt
1-2 pinch baking soda
1-2 pinch baking powder

Mix all the ingredients well. The mixture should be of pouring consistency. Add a little milk if required.
Microwave for 2 mins and Enjoy the पुरणपोळी Mug cake.

©Shraddha Rajwaday

+91-9923077003

*पुरणपोळी Mug cake*
शुक्रवार, २५ जुलै २०२५
श्रावण शुद्ध प्रतिपदा

Food for Thought 4

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

How do you like your eggs, Shraddha? :

Remember the movie, ” The Runaway Bride”?

In the movie Julia Roberts' character Maggie Carpenter doesn't know how she likes her eggs… she always eats them the way her then fiancé prefers.

When Ike Graham (Richard Gere) asks Maggie how she would like her eggs, she says, "Whatever you're having".

Ike keeps on nudging Maggie, and she then reveals that she has no idea… if she is left to her own devices, she doesn’t know how she likes her eggs!!

Later in the movie, Maggie prepares eggs for herself in every way imaginable, tasting each one of them, and finally figures out how she likes them. Eggs Benedict is her choice!!!

Back to Shraddha….

I recently had an “Eggs Benedict” moment, thanks to my daughter pressing me into trying something new…

I was trying to find someone to accompany me to a movie that I was planning to watch for a long time… unfortunately all my friends and family were preoccupied and weren’t available…

This is when my daughter really got into her convincing shoes and nudged me go and watch the movie alone. She always reminds me of the more self-assured and independent being that I used to be!!

Life happened, Selflessness caught on and Self Prioritizing went into Hibernation mode….

After a lot of convincing and contemplating both ways, I finally decided to go for the movie alone and now, I can’t thank my daughter enough💕💜💕

Going to the movie alone that day really gave me a feeling of being Liberated and being Empowered!!

The “Eggs Benedict” moment was in realizing that...

1) If the movie IS important then I CAN go and watch it alone….

2) Given a choice, I would still prefer going with friends and/or family because for me, the overall experience and the discussions and coffee after, also matters😄😆

3) I need to keep on taking chances at so many small things again to rediscover my choices and preferences…

Self Prioritizing Vs Selflessness

At 50, I realize that I have now gone through a long part of my life without acknowledging what I really like, sometimes not even bothering to know what I really like or want, and always accommodating others….

I think this is also a habit most women unknowingly get into while playing the “Ideal Home maker” bit. I too was an easy prey for this habit and fell into the pattern of not prioritizing myself over others ….

It has taken me a lot of time and mind churning to realize that prioritizing oneself isn’t necessarily being Selfish!! And, Always prioritizing others isn’t Being Selfless either!!!

Rather, it can be an act of self-love and self-preservation which can lead to more fulfilling, healthier and more positive life experiences. I think this can also improve mental health by having positive effects on self-motivation and self-confidence. In fact , Prioritizing oneself can actually demonstrate Self-Respect and Self Worth.

In that sense, then Prioritizing yourself IS an act of service to yourself !!

This Journey of Prioritizing Oneself starts with knowing yourself & your choices in the first place. It is like rediscovering something that has always taken a backseat or has been forgotten completely. It is like rediscovering yourself all over again…. Having as many “Eggs Benedict” moments as you can…

For me, this journey IS very very important and this is keeping me Feeling Empowered!!!

Food for Thought 3

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:15:00 +0000

In Pursuit of Perfection :

“Work hard and Strive for Excellence” has been ingrained in me since my childhood…..

But, I am not able to exactly pin-point a time in my life when I started equating this to "whatever I do needs to be Perfect!!" Or “ Perfect- is what I need to deliver- Always!!”

After this wrong interpretation took roots , probably Nothing has ever been good enough….. I was always behind achieving the perfect spot in life, the perfectly manicured home, the perfectly brought up kids, the perfectly straitened bedsheet, trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect daughter, the perfect mother, the perfect host , the perfect This and the perfect That……

Perfectionism, I now feel, may be a negative core belief that has affected my thought process and it surely trickled down to affect my actions.... And on the way, it may have bruised some loved ones around me….

The big difference between Striving and Striving for Perfection is in the effort and the focus of the effort….

When Striving, Effort mainly focuses on the work done. But when one is on the Self-inflicted Pursuit to Perfection, the focus is on the perfect result.

So I think, Perfectionism should never be confused with striving for excellence.

I see a lot of people around me (who take pride BTW in) declaring themselves as having OCD. Working hard and doing their best isnt achievement enough for them. Achieving is equated to Perfecting - a perfect score card, a perfect home/ wardrobe/ un ruffled hair and life…. for those wrestling with perfectionism, giving their best shot just isn’t enough, and they’ll strive to be perfect at the expense of their own health and wellness.

This kind of Perfectionism has to be considered a weakness because it actually leads to a number of negative outcomes. And believe me, I have experienced some of them myself!!

There can be a long list of negative outcomes, some of them being Perpetual Stress, Fear or Undue Pressure of Failure, Mental health issues - Depression, Anxiety disorders, OCD and Eating disorders, and so on.

😔😏Hmmm…. It took me a really long time in life to realize something was wrong with me….

After painful muscle spasms in the neck and everlasting Trapezitis, GERD and Anxiety, Migraine, Feeling Suffocated and still putting up a smiling face in front of the world, I think I finally began my journey to recovery.… probably just after I turned 40 .

I don’t consider myself fully healed but I now have a small, ever evolving, “work in progress” checklist to correct myself and, trust me, I have to use it very often.

I am Sharing it here…. Do Feel free to use it….

And do let me know if you feel something can be added to the list….

THE RECOVERY LIST:

1) Am I Setting myself up for disappointment?

Expecting to Achieve absolute faultlessness will lead to disappointment for sure!!

I now look at a range or a bracket wherein things are still good enough and can make me happy.

2) Should I Reframe my expectations?

Whenever someone other than me is involved, I do think about reframing my expectations…. It can be a mutual decision as to what good achievement means… This helps to keep my relationship intactwith the person involved.

3) Is this making me Unapprochable?

Not everyone is infatuated with the idea of perfection…. And not everyone has the same idea of Perfection as well.

I try to let go of certain things or actions to maintain my Approchability with others around me.

4)Am I Recognizing the efforts of others?

I feel the more I appreciate the efforts, the more it makes me happier inside…

The happiness inside is helping me to learn to appreciate others more… this is an upward spiral😊

5) Practise Self-compassion!

One Big Realization - Being kind and Compassionate equates to prioritizing oneself AND knowing where to STOP !!

{😄🙏PS : Remember, It is NOT expected to be the Best, Most Comprehensive and the Ultimate Guideline for Recovery… }

But,

This is my cue to stop for today and a remember that “Pobody is Nerfect!!!”

Food for Thought 2

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:36:00 +0000

Starting afresh on the other side of the 50 ….

As I said earlier,

A few thoughts have been playing on my mind for some time now…

Some thought processes need to change, some things need to move forward and some things need validation to stay put where they are!!

Sharing my 1st thought.... This one took me around in circles till I was dizzy......

What is the Purpose of My life : I have spent numerous moments in the past couple of years pondering over the real purpose of my life… trying to find something meaningful about this life… finding a tangible reason to do all this, everyday, each day…

I have also spent time thinking about why I am searching for a meaning or purpose only now… when I am on the verge of the Golden number 50.

The funny part is, I even tried to find the dictionary meaning for this😆…. And was unable to find a clear definition. The search just kept on leading me back and forth to the same words: higher purpose, greater good, a more meaningful reason to live, work, etc…

What is this “etc”???

This ETC is a loose term, always left open to interpretation and exploration… whatever may be of value or priority or significance or Purpose for its reader at that point in time in their life….

So, then what should be my "greater purpose" on this side of 50??🤔

Knock knock!!!!

No Definite Answer from Within...

And yes, does that also mean that what I have done until now had no greater purpose?

That these children I raised who are now independent and responsible human beings, didn't satisfy a "greater purpose?"

That the relationships I worked hard to cherish and mend and bend myself to keep this family going wasn't a "greater purpose?"

Being aware of the Environment Outside…. Trying to do things to keep my Carbon footprint as low as possible… wasn’t a "greater purpose”?

Being aware of the Environment Inside me… Trying to keep Equilibrium and adapting new styles of thinking... Wasn't a "greater purpose"?

Counseling clients to make correct food choices for themselves, inspite of what the Ad world tells them… wasn’t a “greater purpose”?

This list just goes on…..

Finally, After doing the circles a couple of times…. I have decided to Course -correct…

This side of 50, I will continue to be Myself and trust the Flow of Life !!

The pressure and Façade of having a greater purpose to Life is OVER…

Food for Thought 1

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:44:00 +0000

Closing Notes on The 50th birthday….

The Prayer :

Completing 5 decades of life has been a wonderous journey so far… I have felt a constant grace being showered upon me and am in complete gratitude for this Grace….

The feeling of being safe and secure and surrounded by loved ones is something I will not trade for any other thing in life!! Barring a few turns of life, that really shook me from the roots and derailed me, I will not like to change a single thing so far…

I have a simple prayer, on this day and for all the days to come… I wish that this Grace remains upon me and guides me towards more wonderous moments and keeps me surrounded with loved ones…. Always🙏

They say Life Begins at 51... and what you do earlier was just Practice😄

Starting afresh on the other side of the 50 ….

A few thoughts have been playing on my mind for some time now…

Some thought processes need to change, some things need to move forward and some things need validation to stay put where they are!!

Penning down my thoughts and feelings is a catharsis in itself and helps me to crystallize and commit to them….

Also, Journaling is something I am not good at but still want to try my hand at.

Rather than starting at a new address, I want to continue writing here and call it “Food for Thought” …

So… “Food for Thought “ will be an adjunct of “Diet for Modern Lifestyles” from now on….

Hoping you all find this interesting as well….

Awaiting positive support😊🙏

Happy World Gratitude Day, 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:57:00 +0000

Take 1: World Gratitude day, 21 Sept 2022

I had been thinking about World Gratitude Day and Positive Psychology and how it affects one's mood and helps positive outcomes in day-to-day circumstances.

The thought of inculcating the habit of Being Grateful and its effects on oneself- the Physical, Mental, Physiological, Emotional as well as Spiritual, was stirring up quite a few things in me......

Positive psychology research has strongly and consistently associated Gratitude with greater feelings of Happiness. Gratitude helps us feel more positive and Being Grateful is an intentional and sincere practice of noticing the good in your life.

But I also realized that just one day every year, dedicated to being Grateful is totally insufficient to understand and experience Gratitude. It essentially has to be an Everyday Practice.

Being the most ardent fan of Indian Culture and Heritage, I was pretty confident that there would be a lot of Gratitude practises which were handed down to us, and knowingly-unknowingly, these practises would have had a positive effect on our minds.

In real life, keeping our traditions alive, Being Mindful of what they actually preach and applying the understanding to everyday Practice has been an " in- thing" for me.... Always!!

Whatever I practise in personal life, I always end up trying to find a connect between the Old and the New and this Journey of Joining the dots has always been very very rewarding.

With an absolutely heavy Heart, but with a fabulous Idea in my mind, I decided to rest and wait for one full year before I could share this with all of you.

I wanted to inculcate the habit of being Mindful and Grateful within myself and experience the difference before I said anything to others.

AND I wanted to do this very much the traditional way.

AND I wanted it to be related to food and Nutrition too, if possible.

It was tough, but I found my way out.......

I have been sincerely up to it for one full year, and it has still kept on stirring quite a few things in me.......

Take 2: World Gratitude Day 2023

Gratitude, in simple words for me is, a thankful, sincere appreciation for what we receive, tangible or intangible from the world around us.

Following verses have kept me on track and helped me to be Mindful and Grateful for the food I eat every day. A Simple act, that I have been always taking for granted so far, I now realize markedly.

It has helped me in Centering myself repeatedly and the realization that the efforts of so many people have gone into providing me with one meal is Profound......

वदनी कवळ घेता नाम घ्या श्री हरीचे। 

सहज हवन होते नाम घेता फुकाचे ।।

जीवन करी जीवित्वा अन्न हे पूर्ण ब्रम्ह ।

उदर भरण नोहे जाणिजे यज्ञ कर्म।।

जनीं भोजनी नाम वाचे वदावे ।

अति आदरे गद्यघोषे म्हणावे ll

हरी चिंतने अन्न सेवित जावे ।

तरी श्रीहरी पाविजे तो स्वभावे ॥ - Samarth Ramdas

And

वदनी कवळ घेता नाम घ्या मातृ भूचे l

सहज स्मरण होते आपुल्या बांधवांचे ll 

कृषीवल कृषिकर्मी राबती दिनरात l

श्रमिक श्रम करोनी वस्तू या निर्मितात ll 

स्मरण करुनी त्यांचे अन्न सेवा खुशाल l

उदर भरण आहे चित्त होण्या विशाल ll  - Sane Guruji

During this last year, the few things that have also stirred inside me are.....

Being Mindful of the efforts of Others, Appreciating & Acknowledging them, Improvement in general Mood, trying to Respond to stimuli than to React, Betterment in listening skills and Increased feelings of Joy.

This experience has again strengthened my belief in our traditional ways and in finding deeper meanings in what we casually practise otherwise.

Hoping this stirs up something inside you too.....

Wishing You all a Joyous World Gratitude Day, 2023.

And remember,

The best attitude to wear is Gratitude!!!

पर्युषण - खमत खामणा - मिच्छामी दुक्कडं

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 12:43:00 +0000

पर्युषण - "खमत खामणा" - "मिच्छामी दुक्कडं"!!

Disclaimer : Following is about what I have personally understood about Paryushan and is an exclusively personal comment, based on personal experience only……

My first encounter with Paryushan happened around 20 years back. I was staying in Mumbai and had a handful of Jain clients, who were on focused weight loss diets. Protein rich and Carbohydrate Restricted diets were trending and quite in fashion…..

As a Diet Consultant, my philosophy has always revolved around being Mindful of What, When, How and How often you eat. Educating a client to make his/her food choices is always Liberating. Eating consciously and being answerable to yourself almost always brings about the required, positive changes in the Lifestyle.

On the other hand, Jains follow the most rigorous form of spiritually motivated Diet and are complete lacto-vegetarians…. The normal food restrictions “Peak out” at the time of Paryushan.

I used to literally have a really hard time convincing my clients that, if done in the right way, this period of Festivities can be converted into a good opportunity to actually have desirable effects.

Following are some interesting facts about

पर्युषण - खमत खामणा - मिच्छामी दुक्कडं

The Jain community celebrates Paryushan Parva each year for self-purification and spiritual development.

Paryushan typically means 8 or 10 days of rigorous prayer and fasting…. The Digambar Jains celebrate it for 10 days & the Shwetambar Jains observe it for 8 days.

This festival focuses on self-analysis, deep introspection, mental and physical purification and Abstinence of materialism for a possible attainment of Nirvana.

Food Abstinence and Fasting, Self-Study, Reading Religious books and Chanting Verses, Samayika- the vow of periodic concentration, Restraint on speaking, Pledging to refrain from bodily pleasures and Meditating are some of the activities the Jains follow.

Most significant day of this festival is the Samvatsari Mahaparva. Fasting for the whole day is a must and even small children participate with vigour.

A notable fact - The festival of Paryushan ends on Bhadrapad shuddha Chaturthi, which is Shri Ganesh Chaturthi according to the Hindu Calender and is the first day of the Ganeshotsav. Ganeshotsav is one of the most loved festival of Maharashtra. Interestingly, the “पंच खाद्य” naivedya that we offer to the lord Ganesh, can be very easily incorporated in the Jain Paryushan diet.

“पंच खाद्य” is an absolutely “nutrient dense” combination which will help our Jain friends in maintaining their fasts and inclusion of this “पंच खाद्य” would be an interesting as well as a healthy way of adopting and adapting to become a more colorful and homogeneous lot. (Sharing pics of homemade “पंच खाद्य” I made today)

The last and and most important day or Paryushan parva is when everyone actively seeks Forgiveness.

Acceptance of one's deeds, and, knowingly and consciously asking for forgiveness from those whom you may have wronged, can be the most liberating thing one can do in a lifetime.

“खमत खामणा” - Literally means,Please DO forgive me for anything i may have done to hurt you”

and

“मिच्छामी दुक्कडं” - is probably an aberration of the Sanskrit phrase, “मिथ्या मे दुष्कृतं”, which means, (I pray) that all my misdoings and bad deeds be erased /nullified/ and-or be void.

Over the years, my practice and learnings from Yoga have further helped me in understanding what may have been the ultimate basis of this ritual…. And with each passing year I have come to revere the entire process even more…

The Introspection, Self Analysis and Soul-searching aspects of Paryushan can be adopted by each one of us. Irrespective to one’s religion, caste, tribe or sex, “खमत खामणा “ and “ मिच्छामी दुक्कडं” are phrases we all should ideally carve in our minds and inculcate in our awareness to help us evolve into better human beings…..

गोपाळ काला: Endorsed by Lord Krishna himself...One of the most Nutritious and Fulfilling, Comfort food ever.... Try it

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 07:58:00 +0000

गोपाळ काला

Introducing Gopalkala……. Endorsed by the Lord Krishna himself….

One of the most Nutritious and Fulfilling, Comfort food ever... Worth trying

Let us answer all the W&H questions on Gopalkala.

What When Why Where Who and How??

What is Gopal-Kala? Gopalkala is a traditional, Janmashtami special, Maharashtrian savory dish.

It is usually prepared as an offering to Lord Krishna during “Gokulashtami or Krishnashtami” celebrations.

Being very Nutritious and Fulfilling, it can be actually served as a breakfast or evening snack, anytime during the year.

When : Gokulashtami is the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, and is one of India’s most enjoyed festival. It is celebrated all over India with vigour and zeal.

Why : In India, we grow while imbibing Customs and Traditions… Stories of Lord Krishna aren’t Mythology, They are our History…. Learning happens through story-telling in our households…

As one of the greatest Gestures of Practising Equality and Rising above all Biases, Lord Krishna used to gather all the food brought by his fellow friends, mix it up into a “Kala” and distribute it equally amongst everyone…

Celebrating ‘Janmashtami’ by making Gopalkala, in the presence of our friends, family and neighbours, is a Befitting tribute to Remembering Lord Krishna.

Where : In Maharashtra, celebrations in most places are centred around the “Dahi Handi.” Dahi Handi (literally translates to a potful of curd), is the clay pot filled with Dahi kala or Gopalkala ...

It is usually strung up high above in many neighbourhoods and groups of young boys (and now, girls too) form intricate pyramids to reach and break these Pots.

The Gopalkala inside the pots is the Ultimate Treasure that everyone enjoys once the Dahi Handi is broken. This gopalkala is offered to Lord Krishna as” Naivedya” and then, distributed as “Prasad’ among the devotees…..

Who: I feel everyone should try it atleast once… and then include it as a healthy alternative to Junk foods and OTC snacks, in their Diet regimens.

How: I am sharing the traditional recipe handed down to me and little changes can be made according to your taste. Mostly all ingredients are easily available in indian households.

Ingredients:

·     Thick Poha/Rice flakes
·     Pufffed Jowar
·     Fresh, full fat curd
·     Cucumber, Pomegranate seeds, Apples, Soaked Groundnuts and Chana dal
·     Freshly Chopped coriander
·     Freshly grated Coconut
·     Sugar and Salt to taste

For Tempering

· 1 tsp Ghee

· 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

· A pinch of Hing / Asafoetida

· 1-2 Finely chopped Green chilies

· 1/2 tsp Grated Ginger

Instructions

Take Poha/Rice flakes in a colander and wash them with water, keep aside.
In a mixing Bowl, take the full fat curd, add salt and sugar. Mix well.
To this, Add washed Poha, puffed Jowar, cucumber, apples, pomegranate seeds, soaked groundnuts and soaked chana dal.
Add coriander leaves and freshly grated coconut…… Mix well together.
For tempering, heat Ghee, add cumin seeds, hing, green chillies and grated ginger.
Add this tempering to the above mixture. Mix well and Gopalkala is ready…..
Garnish with coriander and pomegranate seeds.

Serving Suggestions and Tips:

Serve Gopalkala cold or at room temperature.

Do not use sour curd or yogurt…. Use Fresh Full fat curd

To adjust the consistency of gopalkala, a little milk can be added.

Nutritionally….

Gopalkala is a Healthy, Nutritious , Satiating and Wholesome snack.

A “No-cook” and Quick recipe…

Absolutely Child Friendly…

Can be Served as a breakfast or evening snack, anytime during the year.

Well- balanced in all Macronutrients

Rich in Micronutrients as well….

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 06:53:00 +0000

International Women's Day Special.......
Diet For Healthy Skin
To read more, visit www.shraddharajwaday.com

Health Strategy 7

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:42:00 +0000

Are you READY FOR A CHANGE ?

Health Strategy 7 @ www.shraddharajwaday.com

HEALTH STRATEGY 6

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:06:00 +0000

COLOR YOUR PLATE, COLOR YOUR LIFE !!!

For Health Strategy 6 , visit www.shraddharajwaday.com now.........

HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:57:00 +0000

Tantalizing Food For VALENTINE"S DAY !!!

HEALTHY EATING, HAPPY EATING !!!

@ http://shraddharajwaday.com

Health Strategy 5

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Health Strategy 5: Beware of WHITE foods!

To read more, visit shraddharajwaday.com

Health Strategy 4

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:43:00 +0000

Health Strategy 4 will be put up shortly on the Website www.shraddharajwaday.com

3 Easy Steps.....

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:48:00 +0000

Dear Readers,

I appreciate the efforts you have taken in the past to register and subscribe to

Diet for Modern Lifestyles.

I have now moved to my website www.shraddharajwaday.com for the flexibility and for improving the features of my posts, and making reading a worthwhile experience for all.

I would like to see you all there in the near future......

3 Easy Steps to Log-in and Subscribe to the new site:

1. Visit www.shraddharajwaday.com

2. On the right side on the home page, look for the Window which looks like this. Choose any of the social networking options of which you are a member. Then log in with your User ID and password of the selected social network or your Gmail User ID and password. This operation should make you a registered user in 10 – 15 seconds.

3. After registering, if you would like to receive intimation of new postings on the blog in your mailbox, please type in your email ID in the subscription box as shown on the left and simply type in your mail ID and click on “Subscribe”. An activation mail will be sent to this mail address, and once you authorize the subscription in your mail, you are ready to go.

So see you there soon.

Thanks and Regards,

Shraddha Rajwaday

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:06:00 +0000

Dear All,

This is my last Post here. As circulated earlier, I will continue sharing at my website www.shraddharajwaday.com

New Year Health Strategy 3 will be put up on the website shortly.

Hoping you all will love and support the site as dearly as you have supported this initiative.

Last but not the least........ waiting to see you all there and hoping to see your valuable suggestions and comments, they will help me improve and grow.

Regards,

Shraddha Rajwaday

Health Strategy #3

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:06:00 +0000

Health Strategy #3 will be posted tomorrow at www.shraddharajwaday.com

Dear Friends and readers, your support has encouraged me to host my own site on www.shraddharajwaday.com . The site is now up and working and grow further as I grow.

I request and urge you to extend the same support to me there as you have always given here.

The login and registration process there is very easy. You can simply sign in through Cour Fb or Linkedin or Twitter or Google accounts. Signing up is a 10 second process and will ensure that you continue to get posts in your mailbox in future.

Thank you once again. Hope to see you soon on www.shraddharajwaday.com soon!

Cheers,

Shraddha Rajwaday

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:46:00 +0000

Health Strategy 2

Simple efforts put together end up showing impressive, cumulative results.

Simple changes in lifestyle or changes in the WAY you make food choices can in the end have favorable and long lasting health benefits.

Our 1^st Health Strategy for this year was to start thinking about food and think before you eat it, every time.

Our 2^nd Health Strategy is also going to be as simple and can be put into use effortlessly.

START READING YOUR FOOD LABELS…..

This is a very important strategy and will go a long way in the making us aware about the food that we are eating. This in turn will also help us to stick to our 1^st Strategy because you would have thought about foods, its ingredients and its benefits at the time of shopping itself.

Always Read Food Labels.

Look Out for Specific foods which may be harmful to your condition.

Try and find out Synonyms which mean similar or the same thing but is disguised in the food label. Eg : Sugar / Honey / Maple Syrup / Corn Syrup / Glucose / Fructose are all substitutes of each other and will make the food sweet & high calorie.

Beware of Marketing Gimmicks which will mislead you!! {eg Food items of vegetable origin saying “Cholesterol free”.}

Avoid buying food if you are uncertain of its ingredients.

Wrong advertising & promotions can put you in a Health Crisis.

REMEMBER ,

Reading a food label and getting into habit of reading it is the first step in achieving your health goals.

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:11:00 +0000

Happy New Year to one and all!!!

May this year bring you all the happiness and Health!

One Resolution we can easily stick to during this year is “EAT CONSCIOUSLY”.

If we start eating consciously, then I am sure we can keep those extra pounds and health crisis away.

Seems easier said than done, does it?

But it is not that difficult too……

Let us apply one simple strategy……… Imagine you are at a traffic signal.

Each time you eat, whether it is a meal or a tempting give-in, or any snack, or a second helping of something you love, or you go and fill yourself with a convenience meal, you should

STOP…..

THINK…..

AND EAT J

If you are able to apply this simple trick as many times as you can, then your chances of putting on extra pounds during this year can nullify.

Remember…….. Simple and most treasured joys in life come for Free!!!

Similarly……..…. Being Fit and Healthy does not always require expensive food and funny gadgets and exercise tools.

Think Wisely, Choose Correctly, Apply Religiously and

Stay Fit and Healthy!!!

Diet for Modern Lifestyles is Relocating

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

It gives me immense pleasure to share with you that Diet for Modern Lifestyles is now shifting and relocating itself to www.shraddharajwaday.com

Hoping to see all of you there at Diet for Modern Lifestyles.
Will be working to build this site and the blog now, so, all your suggestions and comments are important and valuable for me.

Looking forward to your support and appreciation,

Shraddha Rajwaday.

Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:19:00 +0000

Green Tea: A boon to Modern Lifestyles

Our Modern lifestyle today has created quiet a few health problems for us and has unbalanced the "Tripod of Health".
With booming industrialization in the last century, the world has really changed and has moved closer too. This has lead to the import and export of foodstuff and availability of newer foods to such an extent that foods are available in the market round the year. No Longer do we get foods which are "Seasonal".
This definitely has influenced our palates and our eating pattern too.
On the other side, this also introduced us to foods from other countries which are now easily available in our markets.

One such wonderful addition is the "Green Tea" and is very easily available on the counters today. Green tea is one thing that should find a place in our kitchens, invariably. Green Tea can help us in getting our lifestyle back on track in this Modern age as it offers loads of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Green tea:

Stress reliever and a Mood Regulator: L-Theanine, an amino acid naturally found in green tea, readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and changes brain chemistry in a way that has been compared to aromatherapy. Studies show that theanine is a non-toxic, highly desirable mood modulator that can be enjoyed by everyone except babies.

As an Effective Cancer blocker: The studies of how green tea affects cancerous cells are still in their infancy, there have been human trials which indicate that it does inhibit cells from developing cancer.

Stabilizes cholesterol levels: Researchers believe that green tea lowers the cholesterol levels by reducing its absorption in your digestive tract and increasing the rate of which it is excreted.

Prevents cardiovascular disease: A Japanese study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed significant reductions in deaths from cardiovascular disease among green tea drinkers.

Can Promote weight loss: Both green tea and green tea extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL cholesterol – both of which ultimately lead to a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. The polyphenols in green tea are extremely useful for dissolving triglycerides, a substance in the liver and small intestine made up of mostly sugar and fat, and this is thought to be the reason green tea benefits fat loss. EGCG(Methylated epigallocatechin gallate) is also known to stimulate the metabolism and accelerate weight loss. When combined with the caffeine in green tea, this causes your central nervous system to release fat into the bloodstream to be used as fuel which burns your body fat off.

Boosts your immune system: Catechins, the antioxidant polyphenol compounds found in green tea help in improving the immune system. Research conducted by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2003 revealed that L-theanine, boosted the activity of the gamma delta T cells that form part of our adaptive and innate immunity. The study followed a group of coffee drinkers and a group of tea drinkers who each drank 600ml of their drink daily. Blood samples taken four weeks later quite clearly showed that production of anti-bacterial proteins were five times higher in those drinking tea.

Helps in Rheumatoid arthritis: Study results reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that polyphenol antioxidants in green tea benefits suffers of arthritis by reducing the incidence and severity of the disease by reducing cartilage destruction and reduces joint swelling and pain.

Can Reduces tooth decay: Antibacterial properties found in green tea are also used by your body to kill the bacteria that causes plaque on your teeth. Research by the Journal of Periodontology has also shown that for every cup of green tea you drink, there is a decrease in indicators for gum disease. Fluoride is also found in green tea which helps to protect against cavities.

Fights the cause of allergies in your body: EGCG has been shown to block a cells receptor involved in producing an allergic response. By blocking the production of histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), two compounds in the body that are chiefly involved in triggering and sustaining allergic reactions, EGCG could very well be the compound which prevents you from having watery eyes, sneezing and coughing.

Other benefits which are still being studied are :Use of green tea in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Skin and Aging.

Thus, Green Tea deserves an inclusion in our day-to-day routine and can give us a helping hand in coping with our Modern Lifestyles. Cheers!!! to a cup of Health !!!

My take on Yoga and Wt loss

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:20:00 +0000

Following are my thoughts on Yoga which I have shared with my peers and group members of the Indian Dietetic Association, Pune Chapter.

Hope this will also imform you a bit more on Yoga and why it can be incorporated in our troubled lives to keep us fit and healthy !!!

With a heated discussion on potency of different foods {hot or cold} and their effects on the body , if any, and handling such queries as nutrition consultants, we have been sharing our views according to our own experiences.

Diet and Ayurveda has always been a controversial issue and some of its concepts are bound to act as speed breakers for our understanding. With this as a background, when the issue of “yoga” comes up for discussion, I am sure there are going to be a lot of emails flying all over the place. I will share my views on this, as suggested by Dr. Geeta ma'am. I am just putting down my experiences and thoughts on this matter, but, I am open to all suggestions, all clarifications and expressions and am looking at this as a process of crystallizing my own thoughts.

My experience with Yoga starts in my childhood when i wasn't even aware of human biology and the way it has its effects on the human body. It was just about performing different ”asanas” in different formations, showing off the body for its flexibility and winning a shield probably at the end of the competition for my school. But it opened up a world of different experiences. I was also fortunate enough to learn the basics of concentration {will definitely not call it “Meditation”} during this time too.

My personal fascination with foods, using them as medicines (& sometimes cosmetics too), dietetic counseling , trying to understand ayurveda, practicing yoga on and off, has continued over the years.

So, these thoughts are purely based on my experiences and my reading on the subjects of yoga and sports physiology. When I say that yoga can be incorporated into a weight loss regime, very effectively, it is also based on some facts from the books of sports nutrition and sports physiology.

1} Usually the aim of any wt loss programme is to help the client to lose weight so that they achieve the targeted , ideal weight and try to maintain it in the long run. This also means that the there should be loss in overall fat mass and the body should be within the range for its ideal body fat % as well.

2} Exercises and current trends in weight loss focuses on trying to spend or burn as much calories as one can on exercising machines. Calculations here are based on calories given to the body using food or other formulas and the calories burned while exercising. Theory says that as long as there is a deficit in these equations, wt loss will result.

3} Sports Physiology says that the choice of fuel used by the body for exercise depends on 3 things: Intensity of Exercise

Duration of exercise

Nutritional status of the body.

4} Intensity of exercise: More than 60% VO2Max = CHO used as primary fuel

Bet 40-60 % VO2Max = mixed balance of fuel

Below 40 % VO2Max = Fat used as primary fuel.

5} According to my personal opinion, if energy for exercise is derived from body fat as a primary fuel, then, resultant would give us a lasting weight loss.

Yoga, typically, is not thought to be a calorie burning exercise. Probably it will not even meet the requirements of American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for weight mgmt.

BUT,

6} Bio-energetics clearly says that Low intensity, long duration aerobic exercise always uses Fat as a fuel and energy is derived from slow glycolysis and fat oxidation.

7} Whereas, high intensity exercises show high and selective dependence on CHO as a fuel.

8} Not only Yoga , but low intensity longer duration exercises like Tai-chi or Pilates which necessarily explore the “mind and body ” connection as well, also bring about the same effect.

9} Low intensity Yoga has shown to promote (by experience and observation) a lasting Wt loss, improved strength and flexibility by achieving efficient burning of Fat.

10} Last but not the least, dynamic and continuous Yoga { now a days being called as Power Yoga} but used for generations by Indians in the form of Sun Salutations (A & B) viz “Surya Namaskar” would also qualify for burning enough calories according to modern standards for achieving wt loss.

As for other exercises, Brisk walking will similarly qualify for a lower intensity exercise which burns calories effectively but this will not necessarily improve on flexibility, muscle tone, posture and strength like Yoga would.

Jogging according to me will be a high intensity exercise.

As for me, a combination of warm up stretches, brisk walk of 25 mins, dynamic yoga 25mins and cooling down should show the desired effect of wt loss with out the addiction of any exercise machines anywhere on the planet.

Shraddha Rajwaday

Open Sesame !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:24:00 +0000

Lets see what sesame seeds have to offer us as a part of our diet.

Sesame seeds are very nutritious and provide excellent source of protein, particularly for the vegetarians.It also has really good amounts of calcium and unsaturated fatty acids.

Has very valuable and heart friendly antioxidants, namely, Vitamin A , Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium and Niacin.

The black seeds yield the best quality of sesame oil and is mostly used for medicinal purposes
especially as a massage oil. It gives strength to the muscular as well as skeletal systems. It is thus very popular as a massage oil particularly to growing children.

The white seeds are richer in calcium and can be used in vegan diets as a good source of calcium.

The reddish seeds have exceptionally good amounts of iron. They can be safely used in the treatment of Anemia.

Sesame seeds soften and nourish the skin when used externally.
Taken internally, sesame seeds are nourishing and tonic. They have soothing, laxative and a slightly diuretic effect. It can also stimulate menstruation.

Sesame oil has a golden amber colour and has distinct nutty flavor. Because of its high smoking point it can also be used for stir frying and Indian style of cooking.

Sesame oil can also replace olive oil in salad dressings. It can replace cashew nuts in rich Indian curries as well.

Interesting fact worth considering is : 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds supplies 14% of a woman's daily calcium needs.

Another interesting way of using these wonderful seeds is to use them as mouth freshener along with saunf (fennel seeds) after your food.

GO AHEAD AND TRY THEM !!!!!

New year Wishes, The Indian Way !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:06:00 +0000

Happy New Year To All !!!!

Come January and we are all happy to welcome the new year. Happiness is all around and everyone is full of new vitality and energy to start afresh. New year brings new joy, new hope and strength to try and strive further. This is the true season to share and multiply your joy.

Come January and the season starts to change in India. The day starts to lengthen and the sun starts showering the earth with its warm love that grows each day. The bitterness of the cold winter starts to slowly wear off its effect and everything seems to be full of life again.

Come January and the households in India are ready to share their joy with others and the very feeling of sharing our joy with others has kept us going as a strong culture with rich tradition and a vast and beautiful heritage.

Come January and we Maharashtrians get ready to celebrate the “Makar Sankraman” or the “Makar Sankranti“. We believe in multiplying our joy by giving and sharing. Giving and sharing well wishes, giving and sharing positive vibes, and giving and sharing food made with love and care.This also comes with a hope to forget all the sorrow, struggle and pain and forgive one and all. So...............

Come January and we are all ready to FORGIVE AND FORGET and with a big smile we greet each other to say “Til gul ghya ani god god bola” ( we offer each other TILGUL , try to forgive and forget and show the willingness to start afresh.)

You sure guessed it right,
I am guiding you to think about “til-gul” from a different point of view, other than what i mentioned above. And it cannot be anything else but nutrition at this address !!!!

Interestingly, sesame plants were first cultivated in Africa and later introduced to India, probably via the spice route. It was identified in an excavation in Harappa, now in Pakistan, dating to 2000 BC and was recorded in Egypt about 1300 BC. Sesame seeds have been widely used for a long long time in India, and they even establish an important spot in Vedic literature too.

We have been using sesame seeds in our kitchens for a long long time. The very thing that these wonderful seeds have a place in our kitchens is that they are absolutely worth it. These small seeds we amongst the first ones to be used as a source of oil in human diet.

In India we get different varieties of sesame seeds. White, black and brownish red. Interestingly all of them have great nutritional and medicinal value.

As a way of offering “til gul” to all of you, I will be glad to share some more nutritional information on sesame seeds this time of the year. Hoping you will find it interesting and will give you learned joy in offering “til gul” to friends and family this year.

Food can be a stress too.......

noreply@blogger.com (Shraddha Rajwaday) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Stress is a modern "buzz word". Everybody talks about stress now-a-days and even small children are prone to stressful situations.

Common symptoms, or rather physiological effects of stress include Immunological suppression (frequent infections), food cravings, weight loss, constant fatigue, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression, mood swings or even skin irritations.

"Stress" becomes further more interesting because it can be experienced very very individually and uniquely by everyone of us. That is, what may be a very stressful situation for me, may not be a problem for someone else. What frightens me may not be as alarming to you.

Stress gets funnier to interpret as it can be altered in every consecutive similar situation you come across. To give a personal example, i was frightened and had sweaty palms and could feel my heart thumping in my body at the time i was supposed to deliver my 1st lecture in front of about 50 people. Now, i am a bit more seasoned and am a bit better off in dealing with this situation. So....... that thumping has gone away but still that nervousness may be there.

What i mean is, the situation is the same, but its interpretation by our body can change. So, we can actually learn to acknowledge stress and understand it to minimize it.

BUT IN A CATCH 22 SITUATION , FOOD WE EAT CAN BECOME A STRESS TOO...................

Think about the "food-stress" you are giving to your body when

1: you eat food you are allergic to

2: you are on a crash diet

3: you buy and eat FAD foods

4:you load yourself with lots of salty or sweet foods

5: you eat the tantalizing wadapav or pakodas

6:you smoke and think it is helping you to relax and take a break

7: you have alcohol and are sure it is helping you to unwind from the daily grill

8:you end up eating ready made dinner options...........................

The list can thus go on, but what we can do to atleast help our body to cope with and to eliminate the internal causes of stress is to

" BE WATCHFUL AND THINK ABOUT WHAT AND WHEN AND HOW WE EAT"

It may not be posible to eliminate the external stressors in our lives, but,

WE DEFINATELY HAVE THE POWER TO ALTER OUR EATING HABITS AND CHANGE OUR LIFESTYLE.