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5 No-Fuss, Healthy Recipes To Try During Lockdown

Dt. Parvathy Menon

5 Min Read

While your inner and physical strength is being tested and hopefully tempered, it is also crucial to provide adequate fuel in the form of nutrient-rich food. A general tendency is to snack on unhealthy food which will pose added threat to an already tough situation that we are battling through. At this moment, being at the top of your game in mind and body is very important. Food that helps in strengthening immunity, provide necessary nutrients, restricts weight gain while positively tickling the taste buds is the need of the hour. Considering the lockdown and difficulties regarding the availability of ingredients and the impediments to procure these, it is also imperative to do with stuff that is easily available at home.

Here are 5 easy-to-cook, healthy recipes that you can try at home with ingredients that are easy to procure or are usually available at home. Involve your family members and make this a fun activity to engage in as a family and the resultant would be some yummy and nutritious food to indulge in.

Breakfast

Power Oatmeal

Ingredients:

Oats- ½ cup
Milk- 1 cup
Cinnamon powder- ¼ tsp
Ginger powder- ¼ tsp
Mashed cloves- 2 counts
Black pepper powder- a pinch
Honey- 1 tsp
Salt- as per taste

To garnish:

Roasted almonds- 4-5 counts
Walnuts- 4 counts
Pumpkin seeds- 1 tsp
Sunflower seeds- 1 tsp

Prep Time– Approximately 10 minutes

Add ½ cup oats in a pan. Lightly roast it.
Add 1 cup milk. Let it cook.
Once it is done, remove from flame and add honey, cinnamon powder, ginger powder, mashed cloves, black pepper powder and salt.
Mix well and garnish with almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Serve hot.

Benefits- Relieves stress, boosts immunity, a good source of fibre, omega 3 fatty acids, and micro minerals such as selenium, zinc and magnesium. This can be supplemented with a boiled egg and a slice of whole-wheat toast if need be, and you have your breakfast plans set.

healthy recipes oatmeal mfine

Mid-morning snack

Fruit Raita

Ingredients:

Curd/ Yoghurt – 1 cup
Fruits- ½ cup (3-4 fruits as per availability)
Cinnamon powder- a pinch
Black pepper powder- a pinch
Honey- 1 tsp
Salt- as per taste
Tip – Add a pinch of turmeric powder, if you are ok with the taste

Prep time – Approximately 5 minutes

Blend the curd/yoghurt well with honey, salt, cinnamon and pepper powder and turmeric in a bowl.
Add the fruits and dry fruits in.
Garnish with some pudina leaves and you are set to go with a filling and healthy mid-morning snack.

Benefits- Great for digestion and packed with proteins, fibre, vitamins and minerals

healthy recipes fruit raita mfine

Lunch

Vegetable-Mixed Lentil Khichdi

Ingredients:

Rice- 1 cup
Mixed lentils – 1 cup soaked for 3-4 hrs (masoor dal/ toor dal/ channa dal/ moong dal)
Cumin seeds- 1 Tsp
Chopped ginger- 1 Tsp
Chopped onion- 1 medium
Vegetables- ½ cup ( carrot/beans/peas/tomato/spinach/cabbage)
Ghee- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
Black pepper powder- 1 tsp
Salt- As per taste
Coriander leaves- To garnish
Water- 6 cups

Prep time– Approximately 30 minutes

In a cooker add 1 tsp ghee. Add cumin seeds and chopped ginger. Cook for 30 sec.
Add chopped onions and sauté well.
Add vegetables like carrot,beans,peas,tomato,spinach, cabbage. Mix well.
Add turmeric powder, black pepper powder, salt. Mix well.
Add 1 cup rice and 1 cup mixed lentils which have been soaked for 3-4 hours.
Add 6 cups water. Give everything a quick stir.
Pressure cook for 2-3 whistles on a low to medium flame. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Benefits- Wholesome meal, with a perfect balance of carbohydrates and proteins. Easy to digest.

healthy recipes khichdi mfine

Evening snack

Makhana Channa Kurmure

Ingredients:

Roasted channa- ½ cup
Makhana (Lotus seeds) – ½ cup
Green chilli- 1 count
Ghee- 1 tsp
Black pepper powder- ½ tsp
Turmeric powder – a pinch
Mustard seeds- ½ tsp
Salt – as per taste

Prep Time– Approximately 10 minutes

Heat a pan and add ghee, followed by mustard seeds, green chilly, roasted channa, makhana, turmeric powder. Mix together.
Add salt and black pepper powder and mix well.

Benefits- Low in calories, full of protein, fibre and iron, This is perhaps one of the easiest and healthy recipes out there. Goes well with a cup of green tea or slightly indulge with coffee or tea with one teaspoon of sugar.

healthy recipes makhana mfine

Dinner

Masala paneer

Ingredients:

Milk- 1 litre
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Chat masala- ½ tsp
Chopped green chillies – 2 counts
Black pepper powder- 1 tsp
Lemon- 1
Coriander leaves- To garnish
Salt- as per taste

Prep Time- Approximately 25min

Boil 1-litre milk.
Turn to low flame and add cumin seeds, chat masala, chopped green chillies, black pepper powder, salt to taste and a fistful of coriander leaves.
Put it on high flame and add the juice of 1 lemon. Stir well. You will see the water and paneer separating. Strain the water out.
Masala paneer is ready. Do not throw the water. It is super nutritious and can be consumed alongside or used to knead the dough for roti/paratha

Benefits– Low on carbohydrates and high in protein. Take with 2 whole wheat roti/ whole wheat bread

masala paneer mfine

Words to remember

Hope you enjoyed the read and are all keen to try these healthy recipes. Do remember to stay hydrated with lots of water and make it a point to indulge in some basic exercise routine indoors every day for a minimum of 30 minutes. Remember that a healthy body houses a healthy mind. And a healthy body and mind are critical to see us through these testing times. So, enjoy preparing and relishing these healthy recipes. Please share with your friends and family and also let us know your thoughts. Do stay indoors, stay healthy, stay safe and stay positive.

For more diet advice, healthy eating tips and suggestions on multivitamin intake, please reach out to our team of dietitians on the MFine app. Our experts are just a tap away! If you are experiencing symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat or breathing difficulties, it is advised that you consult a doctor as soon as possible. Get your symptoms assessed by top doctors on your phone on the MFine app.

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Written by

Dt. Parvathy Menon

Parvathy N Menon is a senior nutrition consultant with MFine. She is an MSc in Nutrition & Dietetics and is also a registered dietitian (RD). Her areas of expertise include nutrition for medical conditions like diabetes, ailments of the heart, PCOD, etc. She also specialises in weight loss/gain, women’s health and overall well-being programs. On a personal note, she enjoys travelling, listening to music and spending quality time with her family.

5 No-Fuss, Healthy Recipes To Try During Lockdown

Breakfast

Power Oatmeal

Mid-morning snack

Fruit Raita

Lunch

Vegetable-Mixed Lentil Khichdi

Evening snack

Makhana Channa Kurmure

Dinner

Masala paneer

Words to remember

Request a Call Back

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