The diet diary of a beginner: ditching rice

When it comes to diet, the phrase "maach-e bhaat-e Bangali" just will not do. As tempting as it is to have some rice and curry you should also remember how you could not afford to break your diet rule. It is high time to go on an easy diet. Rice, at this point, is your enemy because the carbohydrates goes straight to your belly, your arm and your shoulders. It is, after all a problem that you can cancel out and you do not need to feed on salad for lunch and dinner all the time, rather there are few alternatives you can opt to. 

Brown Rice and Barley

Alternatives to rice can be primarily a handful of brown rice. It is full of fibre to help your digestive system stay on track and keep you feeling full. Although barley is not as popular as some of the other grains, barley provides a good serving of fibre and many other important minerals such a selenium.

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate. It is a great way to eat what seems like rice without all those carbs! Cauliflower has antioxidant properties. It is a good source of vitamin C and a very good source of manganese. It also supports your digestive system. It is a good source of fibre and sulforaphane, which helps protect the lining of your stomach.

Masala Oats

A mix of spicy and curry oats will be a great alternative for rice. It reduces cholesterol, controls blood pressure, reduces risk of Type 2 diabetes and improves defence of the immune system. It is not only healthy; it is very tasty and easy to cook!

Greens and vegetables

Leafy greens are extremely trendy, but if you are only consuming the leaves of this vegetable, you are missing out. Swiss chard is a dark horse on the list of high protein foods (nearly 3.5 grams per cooked cup) and with a little creative preparation, the stems can be put to use as a healthy rice substitute.

It might be difficult give up rice initially but the alternatives are a great start to step on the diet diary and to give your body the energy and nutrition it needs. Happy dieting!

Photo: LS Archive