There are a number of things that you can add to your diet chart in case you are on a weight loss spree. This may include low-fat cooking as well as a host of fresh and raw ingredients. Apart from salads, you can also have a fruit basket every day to fill yourself with much-required calories that will not add to your overall fat gain. Fruit is one such thing which is favored by most weight watchers because it helps in speeding up the metabolism due to the high level of dietary fibers that may be found in most fruits. In this regard, you can choose fruit baskets that will also have other ingredients to add taste and health to your platter. You can take your pick from a range of seasonal fruits which will also build immunity, boost strength and help lose weight as well. Here are a number of things that you can put into your healthy fruit baskets.
Assorted fruit basket
Create a colorful fruit set that are local, fresh and seasonal fruits. The ideal way to arrange a basket is by pairing fruits that one can have together. These pairings usually have to do with flavor and nutritional value. You can choose to put apples and oranges together, but you cannot combine apples with watermelon, since both have conflicting seasonal growth time. While you can choose watermelon with musk melon and papaya during the warm summer months, you should ideally let the fresh apples come in during the cooler months of the year. A fruit basket is primarily about the freshness, which comes from the seasonal fare. So, it would be a good weight loss idea to select those fruits that grow in that particular season.
Honey & condiments
Did you know that honey goes well with most fruit including apples and grapefruit? For your low-fat, weight loss-inducing state, you can choose these kinds of accompaniments to add taste to your fruit basket. You can add honey in place of sugar for seasoning, as well as other condiments like cinnamon powder to many kinds of fruit. Also, a little freshly squeezed lemon juice over papaya and grapefruit will give these fruits a much better flavor with plenty of punch. This will also help you in doing away with unnecessary calories.
Dry fruit & seeds
You can add dates, almonds, pistachios and much more to your fruit basket. This will add more texture, when it comes to taste. Also, adding raisins ensures that you always have a low-calorie snack when you are taking a break from all that fruit or salad eating. You can also add other seeds like pumpkin, watermelon and sunflower seeds to your fruit basket for a protein dose. This will keep you full and feeling satisfied so that you can avoid the needless cravings for junk food as well.
Weight-loss bars & homemade jams
Another thing that you can add to your basket is protein bars. This will make sure that you’re not starving at any given point of the day. Also, homemade, seasonal fruit jams can be added as well.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.