https://thoughtfulindia.com/category/food/ Indian cooking, recipes and food culture, from regional dishes and festival sweets to the restaurants and kitchens of the diaspora. en Copyright Thoughtful India Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMT https://thoughtfulindia.com/brand/ti-logo-512.png https://thoughtfulindia.com/category/food/ https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/5-foods-cut-belly-fat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/5-foods-cut-belly-fat/ No food melts belly fat on its own — but eggs, oats, dals, nuts, and leafy greens make the calorie equation easier. Suchitra Sharma on eating for a flatter Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/food-exercise-key-weight-loss/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/food-exercise-key-weight-loss/ Celebrity trainer Bob Harper says it's all about diet: you can't out-train a bad diet. How the calorie deficit works — and why exercise still matters. Fri, 23 Aug 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/paula-apologetic-of-racial-slur/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/paula-apologetic-of-racial-slur/ Celebrity chef Paula Deen admitted using a racial slur in a deposition, missed her Today show interview, and lost her Food Network contract — all within 48 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/no-bake-no-cook-desserts-perfect-for-the-summer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/no-bake-no-cook-desserts-perfect-for-the-summer/ Chocolate-peanut butter dessert, mango ice cream, kulfi and more — six summer sweets that need zero cooking and just a fridge. Full recipes linked. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/charlie-trotter-is-being-sued-for-selling-fake-42k-bottles-of-wine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/charlie-trotter-is-being-sued-for-selling-fake-42k-bottles-of-wine/ Two New York wine collectors sued Chicago chef Charlie Trotter in 2013, claiming $46,000 bottles of 1945 Burgundy were counterfeit. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food World https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/tongue-patch-new-way-to-lose-weight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/tongue-patch-new-way-to-lose-weight/ The 'tongue patch' diet sews a mesh patch onto the tongue to make eating painful. Doctors called it dangerous — and it was never FDA approved. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/vitamin-c-helps-in-burning-fat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/vitamin-c-helps-in-burning-fat/ An Arizona State study found people low in vitamin C burned less fat during exercise — a reminder that adequate nutrition supports metabolism. Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/mcdonalds-hamburger-looks-same-after-14-yrs-in-storage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/mcdonalds-hamburger-looks-same-after-14-yrs-in-storage/ A Utah man's 14-year-old McDonald's hamburger looked nearly unchanged — food scientists say very dry foods dehydrate instead of rotting. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/celebrity-diet-plans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/celebrity-diet-plans/ Juice cleanses, the Zone, Five Factor, South Beach: the celebrity diet plans of 2013, how they worked, and the fine print behind them. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/food-that-looks-good-tastes-good/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/food-that-looks-good-tastes-good/ Cornell's Terry Acree on how sight and smell shape flavor: tint Sauvignon Blanc red and tasters taste merlot — a sniff can even sweeten water. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/food-memories-may-aid-weight-loss-researchers-say/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/food-memories-may-aid-weight-loss-researchers-say/ The short version: Your memory of a meal counts toward feeling full. Recalling lunch in detail reduces later snacking; eating distracted increases it. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/latest-in-diets-fast-diet-fast-for-two-days-and-eat-anything-you-want-for-the-next-five-days/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/latest-in-diets-fast-diet-fast-for-two-days-and-eat-anything-you-want-for-the-next-five-days/ The short version: The 5:2 diet — five normal days, two ~500-calorie days — produces weight loss, but no more than ordinary dieting. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/horsemeat-found-in-taco-bell-in-britain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/03/horsemeat-found-in-taco-bell-in-britain/ The third wave of UK beef testing found horse DNA in Taco Bell ground beef, Birds Eye lasagne, and Brakes skewers — but 99% of products tested clean. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Business Food https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/02/nigella-lawsonour-hottest-cook-spills-the-beans-on-cracking-america-that-dress-and-horsemeat-in-her-most-revealing-interview-yet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/02/nigella-lawsonour-hottest-cook-spills-the-beans-on-cracking-america-that-dress-and-horsemeat-in-her-most-revealing-interview-yet/ In a candid 2013 interview, Nigella Lawson talked about conquering America, her famous figure, the losses that shaped her, and why we should eat less but Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/01/pomegranate-juice-olive-oil-and-tuna-healthy-foods-found-to-be-contaminated-by-cheap-additives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/01/pomegranate-juice-olive-oil-and-tuna-healthy-foods-found-to-be-contaminated-by-cheap-additives/ The most expensive foods are the most faked: olive oil, honey, spices, juices, and fish top the global food-fraud list. How to buy smarter. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Lifestyle Food https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/11/study-proves-exercise-protects-the-brain-from-fatty-foods/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/11/study-proves-exercise-protects-the-brain-from-fatty-foods/ A rodent study reported by the New York Times found that exercise blunted the memory-impairing effects of a high-fat diet. Here is what it did and did not show. Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/09/mcdonalds-to-open-its-first-veg-only-joint-in-vaishno-devi/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/09/mcdonalds-to-open-its-first-veg-only-joint-in-vaishno-devi/ McDonald's announced its first all-vegetarian outlets near Amritsar's Golden Temple and the Vaishno Devi shrine — a milestone for the Big Mac empire. Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/08/study-junk-food-laws-may-help-curb-kids-obesity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/08/study-junk-food-laws-may-help-curb-kids-obesity/ An August 2012 Pediatrics study found that students in states with strong school junk-food laws gained less weight — evidence that policy shapes waistlines. Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/man-buys-17-pound-lobster-from-restaurantthenreleases-it-into-the-sea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/man-buys-17-pound-lobster-from-restaurantthenreleases-it-into-the-sea/ Don MacKenzie bought a 17-pound, roughly 80-year-old lobster nicknamed Lucky Larry from a Connecticut restaurant — and set him free in Long Island Sound. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/cucumber-recipes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/cucumber-recipes/ Three simple cucumber preparations for hot weather: a cucumber-radish raita, a quick kachumber-style salad, and a cucumber-mint cooler. Mon, 23 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/no-difference-between-cheap-and-expensive-wines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/no-difference-between-cheap-and-expensive-wines/ Blind-tasting research says the price tag changes how wine tastes more than the wine does: what the studies on expensive vs cheap wine actually found. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/parents-of-picky-eaters-its-not-your-fault/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/parents-of-picky-eaters-its-not-your-fault/ Food neophobia — reluctance to try unfamiliar foods — peaks between ages two and six; researchers say picky eating is a normal stage, not a parenting failure. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle Parenting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/eat-the-cake-cookie-and-still-lose-weight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/07/eat-the-cake-cookie-and-still-lose-weight/ The research on lasting weight loss points away from rigid restriction and toward sustainable plans: total calories over time matter more than banning any Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/dessert-with-breakfast-helps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/dessert-with-breakfast-helps/ A 2012 Tel Aviv University study found that a big breakfast including dessert helped obese dieters lose more and keep it off — but the caveats mattered more Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/cottage-cheese-dieters-friend-recipes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/cottage-cheese-dieters-friend-recipes/ Cottage cheese packs ~28g protein per cup at ~163 calories. Here are sweet and savory ways to eat it — from breakfast bowls to lasagna swaps. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/e-coli-outbreak-in-six-states-is-probed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/e-coli-outbreak-in-six-states-is-probed/ How CDC investigators traced a 2012 E. coli outbreak across six states — from patient interviews to supply-chain sampling — and why leafy greens keep recurring. Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/finding-flavor-in-weeds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/06/finding-flavor-in-weeds/ The foraging movement went mainstream: many plants dismissed as weeds — dandelion greens first among them — are edible, nutritious, and genuinely delicious. Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/ten-of-chicagos-best-vegan-dishes-at-non-vegetarian-restaurants/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/ten-of-chicagos-best-vegan-dishes-at-non-vegetarian-restaurants/ Chicago earned its meat-city reputation — but by 2012 its best kitchens were quietly serving plant-based dishes worth ordering on their own terms. Wed, 23 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/fat-tax-could-be-a-reality/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/fat-tax-could-be-a-reality/ Denmark tried a fat tax in 2011 and repealed it in 2012; Mexico's sugary-drink tax worked better. The economics and the liberty debate behind taxing Sat, 19 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Global Economy Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/chipotle-in-trouble/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/chipotle-in-trouble/ In May 2012 Chipotle disclosed an SEC subpoena probing its hiring practices, employee work-authorization compliance, and the public statements it had made. Sat, 19 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Business Business News Food https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/how-to-keep-your-triglycerides-low/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/05/how-to-keep-your-triglycerides-low/ High triglycerides raise heart-disease risk even when cholesterol looks normal. What they are, the NCEP ranges, and the food-first steps that bring them down. Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/turmeric-lowers-the-risk-of-heart-attack-after-surgery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/turmeric-lowers-the-risk-of-heart-attack-after-surgery/ A 2012 Thai trial found curcumin reduced heart attacks after bypass surgery — a real, small, unreplicated study. What it means and what it absolutely doesn't. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/whats-cooking-this-friday-volume-8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/whats-cooking-this-friday-volume-8/ Volume 8: spring calls for restraint — vivid-green palak paneer, cold cucumber-mint raita, simple basmati, and thin roomali roti. Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/nutrition-basics-for-life-and-training/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/nutrition-basics-for-life-and-training/ Skip the fad diets: the fundamentals of everyday nutrition — whole foods, hydration, protein, sleep — work for life and for training alike. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/junk-food-is-bad-for-mental-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/04/junk-food-is-bad-for-mental-health/ Spanish researchers found that people who ate the most fast food were 51% more likely to develop depression — bad for the waistline, and the blues too. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-3/ A rainy-spring Friday menu: lamb keema with browned onions and peas, hand chapati, a carrot raita — and a glass of something cold. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-6/ Friday menu, vol. 6: bright tomato-coriander chicken curry, charred spring asparagus, and golden turmeric rice — ease that looks like effort. Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-5/ Friday cooking column Vol 5: a slow rajma in tomato-onion gravy, jeera rice, and cucumber raita — the weeknight reward meal. Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/best-late-night-healthy-snacks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/03/best-late-night-healthy-snacks/ Hungry at midnight? Here's how to snack late without wrecking your sleep — warm milk, fruit, handfuls of nuts, and what Ayurveda says about night eating. Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/my-encounter-with-suburban-velodrome/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/my-encounter-with-suburban-velodrome/ All the New Year festivities and gatherings have given me many memories. There is a lot to ponder upon including the extra kilos that I picked up from… Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Sweta Lal Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/5-foods-you-must-eat-everyday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/5-foods-you-must-eat-everyday/ Is there really a list of foods you must eat every day? Here's the honest answer behind the superfood hype — and what actually matters on your plate. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday-vol-2/ This week's Friday table took us to Le Siam in Naperville for Tom Kha soup, crazy noodles, and Massaman curry — plus a home-style Tom Kha recipe to try Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/get-down-to-the-gym-fatty-mother-sheds-six-stone-in-time-for-wedding-after-strangers-insult-in-nightclub/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/get-down-to-the-gym-fatty-mother-sheds-six-stone-in-time-for-wedding-after-strangers-insult-in-nightclub/ A stranger's cruel get down to the gym, fatty remark in a nightclub pushed 26-year-old mother Sarah Gould to lose six stone in time for her wedding. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/dessert-at-breakfast-helps-weightloss/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/dessert-at-breakfast-helps-weightloss/ A Tel Aviv University study found a protein-rich breakfast including dessert helped dieters lose more weight and keep it off over 32 weeks than a strict diet. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/are-whole-eggs-or-egg-whites-better-for-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/are-whole-eggs-or-egg-whites-better-for-you/ Are whole eggs or egg whites better for you? The science on dietary cholesterol has shifted, and the yolk carries nutrients the white lacks. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Health & Spirituality Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday-2/ The Friday cooking column continues with Mrinalini Sen's Easy Breezy Bhindi, a Bengali Sorshe-Posto style okra preparation with mustard-poppy paste. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-fridayvolume-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-fridayvolume-2/ This Friday: slow-simmered black lentil dal with a buttery tadka, roasted cauliflower with a spiced yogurt marinade, and a fresh kachumber on the side. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/from-fat-to-fit-in-just-five-hours-blogger-shows-how-to-create-those-before-and-after-fitness-shots-with-the-help-of-chips-soda-oil-and-a-tanning-bed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/from-fat-to-fit-in-just-five-hours-blogger-shows-how-to-create-those-before-and-after-fitness-shots-with-the-help-of-chips-soda-oil-and-a-tanning-bed/ A viral video by competitive eater Furious Pete showed how before-and-after fitness photos can be faked in five hours with chips, soda, oil, and a tanning bed. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2012/02/whats-cooking-this-friday/ Maitreyee Das launches her Friday food column — a Bengali fish lover's quest for an easy recipe inspired by a restaurant spinach-and-cod dish. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food Lifestyle Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2011/11/easy-healthy-lunch-recipes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2011/11/easy-healthy-lunch-recipes/ Lunch decides your afternoon. Six healthy lunch formulas — Indian and global — built on protein, fiber, and vegetables, each ready in 20 minutes or less. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Food