Being Punjabi, I often get asked how I eat ‘desi’ food without gaining weight.

If you have grown up in an Asian household you will know that the way to any person’s heart is indeed through their stomach!

You can’t beat a homemade deep fried samosa or a Methi parantha oozing with ghee…delicious! 

Unfortunately, our weight & our health do pay the price when this fatty diet is part of our lifestyle. Here are my top  tips for enjoying your desi food the healthy way. 

1. Replace ghee with a LITTLE plant oil. 

Ghee is quite simply a saturated fat which can increase the risk of bad cholesterol which in turn can be damaging for our hearts. Replace it with plant oils such as coconut oil and olive oil. Both of these oils have many health benefits and can help you shed weight! Like ghee, coconut oil also tolerates cooking heat very well, you won’t even notice the difference!

2. Reduce the carbs! Instead of filling your plate up with a big portion of rice or ghee dripping bread option, opt for a small serving of brown rice or a small wholemeal roti. Portion size is key! 

3. Load up on the protein/veg option instead. 
Veggies are also a great source of carbs and fill you up just as much! 

4. Swap your deep fried snacks for a tandoori snack!

Heating oil at high temperatures and deep frying it with starchy foods can lead to oxidation of oils which can lead to many health complications. 
Tandoori usually comes in the form of chicken, fish or a vegetable based option. It is full of flavour due to it being marinated in yoghurt, garlic, ginger and other spices and is cooked in the oven or under a hot grill which requires little or no oil.

5. Don’t eat too late! 
Make sure you eat at least two hours before bedtime, go for a walk with your family and let that food digest! You may find that you have a better sleep and you have more energy! 
It may seem hard at first, but a few small changes here and there will make all the difference. Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle! 

You can follow me on Instagram @rosiegetsfit_