Read this simple guide on how to make healthy choices at Indian restaurant to savor Indian cuisines in a healthy way. I had to come up with this guide on how to make healthy choices at Indian restaurants, just to make Indian eating easier on your stomach, just the same way it’s already so easy on your taste buds. While Indian food is world renowned for its versatility and deliciousness, nevertheless, it is also somewhat dreaded by the westerners for its spice content. Since, the westerners are not habituated in eating spicy and fatty meals; naturally their stomach gives up much often when they eat Indian food. Thus, I have come up with this guide on how to make healthy choices at Indian restaurants, hoping that all my westerner Indian food loving friends will find it helpful.

Tips on how to make healthy choices at Indian restaurants

Foods to avoid

It’s a common myth that Indian food can only be spicy and loaded with fats. The truth is, Indian cuisine also has a number of less spicy and low fat items, which are equally delicious than their heavier counterparts. On the other hand, most spices used in the Indian curries also have their unique roles in benefitting the health. Two best examples are turmeric and cumin. If you are worried about the hotness, then steer clear of foods which contain dried red pepper, a popular addition in spicy Indian meals. Also, to avoid fatty foods, don’t eat items cooked with ghee and malai. While the aroma of these foods may simply be irresistible, you have to remember that even the healthy options in Indian cuisine taste as good. So, before you order, learn from the waite which are the foods suitable for your diet.

Knowledge of the Indian menu

For making healthy choices at Indian restaurants, it would always help you in a better way, if you gather some knowledge on the Indian menu vocabulary. This will help you in bypassing the major diet ruiners and select the healthier options. A standard Indian restaurant shouldn’t give you a tough task in picking out the low fat, heart healthy foods from the menu.

Some healthy choice examples

When you are ordering appetizers, go for yogurt based foods. They are not only cooling but also delicious. Raita, a mildly spicy yogurt appetizer prepared with cucumber is a popular example. Kachumbar salad, pappadum and lentil soup are other examples. A main course with steamed basmati rice, flatbread or tandoori roti with side dishes like chicken tikka, chicken tandoori, aloo gobi, bharta and vindaloo is not only filling and delicious, but also healthy at the same time.

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