Introduction

A common question I get when I talk about the sustainable eating lifestyle is how did I, a foodie, become so conscious of health? Well, I get it; I used to be obsessed with food and eat like there’s no tomorrow. I used to think marching from one food stall to another and loading up calories in bulk is cool. However, when I took a step back and questioned my overall health and metabolism, I got my answer – I need to change the definition of ‘Foodie’ in my head.

So, here is my updated definition: a foodie is someone who experiences the joy of indulging in a meal.

To have a meal that is loaded with balanced nutrition while it tastes heavenly is the real deal. On that note, here is my journey of redeeming my ‘Foodie’ status:

Mindful Eating

I absolutely enjoy the experience of eating food, observing the texture of each dish, trying to comprehend all my senses to understand the intricacies of a dish – smell, vision, sound, touch, etc., It could be dipping the right amount of chutney or sambar to my morsel of dosa or adding enough ghee to my sambar rice to balance both health and taste.

Love in Whole Foods

I enjoy comfort meals like any other person and my comfort meals are staples from my state like bisi bele bath or idli chutney. When I found out that I can make some shifts around my comfort meal to enhance its nutritional value, I wondered if I would get to experience the same feel. Well, with the right combination, yes, it can. For example, I replace rice in Bisi Bele Bath with Kodo millets or make multigrain idli instead of the usual one. With the right consistency and blend, these meals offer the same happiness with enhanced nutritional value. It’s a win-win for me.

Sort and Eat

As a foodie, I like to treat every meal as an experience, a choice, something that can hit the soul along with the tummy. Earlier, when my mom made my favorite meal, I used to gorge on it directly without thinking further. However, as I continue to understand the nuances of balanced diet and portion control, I have shifted to the ‘Sort and Eat’ mindset. When I prepare my favorite dish, I make it a point to first consume my proteins and fiber, and then enjoy every bite of my favorite meal, which is mostly a carb-loaded dish.

Experiments

A common myth around consuming a balanced diet is that it is boring and tastes bland. However, it changes when a foodie enters the scene with their experimental mindset. In my case, it was not me who initiated this approach but my nutritionist and a few videos online that helped me understand how with just a few ingredients and modifications, making dishes that taste good as well as healthy. For example, to enhance the taste and nutritional value of a boring dry vegetable stir-fry, all you need is an addition of besan flour slurry or a simple protein shake can taste amazing with a tiny spoon of dry fruits powder, etc.

Don’t Say No to Desserts

I am not a sweet-tooth; most of the time, I try to control the urge to eat sweets and I can. But for someone who is a sweet-tooth, it often becomes challenging to control the urge. Instead of controlling the urge to an extent where all hell breaks loose and starts indulging in desserts to a dangerous level, why not take a round-about with this approach? Need a sweet breakfast? Have puffed amaranth seeds with chilled milk and fruits. Sweet cravings after lunch? A piece of dark chocolate works. Need something sweet after dinner? Well, go for a long walk.

Conclusion

These are some changes that I have incorporated into my lifestyle to try the balanced diet approach. While this is 70% of my life, the rest 30% is a pure indulgence that is dedicated to social events, vacation, and ‘it’s just one of those days’ kind of days. Do you have any such modifications or suggestions? Do share in the comments.