A Guide To Eating Indian Food When On A Diet

Eating Indian Food-When you are watching what you eat it can be hard to know what to order at restaurants. Even with the strongest will in the world, when you are presented with a sumptuous sounding menu, the temptation is to abandon the diet and order something that is off limits. And there’s nothing wrong with that – after all, everything in moderation is fine, isn’t it? But if you enjoy eating out at least once a week – and many of us do – then what do you do?

Just because you are watching your waistline doesn’t mean you need to avoid dining out at your favourite Indian restaurant. There are ways you can eat out and still eat healthily – you just need to know how. Here are a few tips to help you avoid the fattening temptations and spot the healthier meals on the menu (safe in the knowledge it will still taste great!)

Choose an authentic Indian restaurant 

There are plenty of curry houses on our high streets that have altered their recipes in order to suit the (at times unrefined) British taste buds. This, in part, has led to Indian food getting bad press for being an unhealthy choice of cuisine and contributing to the nation’s obesity problem. This is simply not the case, as authentic Indian cooking techniques are extremely healthy. Choose to eat at a reputable, fine-dining Indian restaurant that serves authentic Indian food prepared using authentic cooking techniques and your meal is already infinitely healthier.

Opt for a tandoori dish

The word “tandoori” has come to mean spiced meat dishes that are cooked at extremely high temperatures. Traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven, tandoori chicken is made by marinating pieces of chicken in yoghurt and a blend of spices before cooking. It is lower in calories than other dishes as less oil is used in the cooking process. Tandoori chicken originated in the 1920s when Kundan Lal Gurjal, a restaurant owner in Delhi, decided to experiment with what he could cook in a tandoor oven. Anyone watching their weight but still loves Indian food owes Mr Gurjal a lot!

Avoid the naan

If you love a naan (and who doesn’t) this will pain you to read, but a portion of plain rice is a far healthier option. There is a reason why naan bread tastes so good – it is brushed with ghee or butter before serving. It’s hard, but try and avoid it. Failing that, share it round to reduce your calorie intake.

A spicy little number

Not only does a fiery kick give your meal added impact, chillies are also packed with the added benefit of helping you stay slim. Research suggests that chillies contain a chemical which can boost your body’s ability to burn fat and curb your appetite as well.