Indian Diet Plan for Healthy Active Brain
Meal Plan for Healthy Active Brain, Featuring East Indian Dishes
Early Morning (7:00 AM)
• Overnight soaked 5 almonds + 3 walnuts + 1 tsp of sunflower seeds
Breakfast (8:00 AM)
• 1 roasted onion parota / 2 whole wheat chapati + potato curry (aloor sabzi)
• 1 cup coffee / tea with skimmed milk (less sugar)
Mid Morning Snack (11:00 AM)
• 1 orange / banana / 3-4 slices of avocados / strawberries
Lunch (1:00 PM)
• 3-4 slices of baigun bhaja
• 1 cup rice / 2 multi grain chapati
• 1 cup stir fry okra vegetable
• 2 pc fish / chicken / 1 cup curd
Note:
• 2 piece of chicken / fish = 100 gm.
• Use olive oil as salad dressing or stir-frying.
Afternoon Snack (4:00PM)
• 1 cup green tea
• 1 cup steam sprouts / 1 cup spicy puffed rice (jhal muri)
Note: Avoid fried bhujiya.
• If hungry in between: Have a fruit.
Dinner (8:00 PM)
• 1 cup mix vegetable salad
• 1 cup rice / 2 multi grain chapati 3/4th cup kolmi shak curry (water spinach)
• 2 pc fish / skin less chicken / ½ cup paneer
Include |
Avoid |
---|---|
Nuts - Almonds, Walnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Hazelnuts and Groundnuts. |
Refined carbohydrates – Maida-based food items. |
Seeds - Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds and Chia Seeds. |
High Sugar Foods and Sugary Drinks. |
Fruits - Blueberries, Strawberries, Mulberries (shahtoot), Cherries and Indian Gooseberry (amla). |
Foods High In Trans Fats – Packaged and Junk foods |
Green leafy vegetables - Spinach (palak), Bathua, Fenugreek (methi), Mustard (sarso), Colocasia (arbi), Kale and Moringa leaves (sehjan). |
Processed Meats – Sausages and Hot Dogs. |
Healthy fats - Avocados, Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. |
Alcohol |
Eggs, Chicken, Fish and Seafood’s like Sardines, Salmon, Mackerel, Tuna, Trout, Shrimps, Crabs and Oysters. |
|
Dark Chocolates. |
|
Green Tea, Matcha Tea and Chamomile Tea. |
|
Herbs and Spices – Turmeric, Basil, Mint, Sage, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Garlic and Cinnamon. |
Dietary Do's
- Include at least five servings of nuts and seeds per week.
- Include berries like blueberries, strawberries and mulberries as they are packed with antioxidants that may delay brain aging and improve memory.
- Add at least one serving of green leafy vegetables You can have them as cooked vegetables, salads, soups, or add to parathas and dosa.
- Swap olive oil for butte It can be added to salads and stir-frying of vegetables.
- Incorporate variety of herbs and spices in daily cooking. Cooking with spices not only makes your food taste better but also helps to reduce inflammation and improve memory.
- Fermented foods are loaded with nutrients that can boost brain health, include foods like kombucha, kefir, kimchi, kanji, dahi, idli, dosa, and dhokla.
- If sweet craving hits, try having 2-3 pieces of dark chocolate with minimum of 70% cacao.
- Stay active with regular exercise.
- Get adequate sleep.
Dietary Dont's
- Avoid having maida-based food items like breads, pav, khari, cakes, cookies etc.
- Limit intake of red meats, fried foods, fast food and processed foods. These unhealthy foods are bad for your waistline and for your brain, so avoid them as much as you can.
- Limit intake of high-sugar drinks like colas, sodas and packaged fruit juice.
- Avoid foods containing artificial sweetener aspartame, generally found in sugar-free products and soft drinks.