Another Monday of April and with it we’ve entered the third week of #BlogchatterA2Z! Good health and clean eating are the pillars that a fit lifestyle stands on. Food is for nourishment of our body but a gratifying meal nourishes our soul too. What we eat affects everything from our health to our mood. Food presentation is a beautiful culinary art and manages to make us crave, salivate and reach out for any dish.

I went through a personal struggle picking out food items for today. Interestingly, P is a vegetarian’s delight with many nutritious fruits, vegetables and readymade food items featuring under it.

Paneer

Paneer or cottage cheese is an evident choice, isn’t it? With its high protein content, Paneer is one of the best sources of protein for vegetarians. Additionally, it also contains good amount of essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and calcium. It strengthens your bones, helps reduce blood sugar levels, boosts heart health and improves digestion. However, depending upon the milk it is made from, it can be high in fat too.

If I could sing paeans about food, Paneer would top the list! It is extremely versatile and can be eaten cooked or raw. Dice it and add it to your salads, marinate it and enjoy a luscious Paneer Tikka, mash and stuff it in parathas or simply roast with some ghee, salt and pepper. Your fit lifestyle will bless this nutritious indulgence!

Pepper

Indians love spice and this ‘King of Spice’ enjoys an enviable position in our food. Black or white, pepper increases the nutritional value of any recipe multi-fold. Its high amount of antioxidants and Vitamin A makes it’s a good way of preventing cancer. It takes care of constipation, is good for your skin and hair and also aids in weight-loss. Pepper is a good detoxifier and can help reduce join pain. It is a popular home remedy to reduce chest congestion too.

Did you know that pepper was once considered so costly that it was used as currency? British came to India looking for it and it is now consumed globally! Found in Kerala, pepper is used in everyday cooking for a fit lifestyle. Ground it and use in vegetables, soups or salads, chew it raw, boil in water and consume it or add it to your pickles. Any which way, the King shall bless you!

Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a foodie’s delight. Their red pearly edible seeds are soothing to the eyes and taste wonderful. Moreover, pomegranate is has some amazing nutritional benefits. Their seeds are packed with vitamins and minerals, fiber and bioactive plant compounds, punicalagins and punicic acid. They have extremely high antioxidant content. Pomegranate seeds can help fight arthritis and join pain and reduce risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer. They’re also good for memory and an effective pre-workout snack.

Pomegranate seeds can be eaten raw or made into juice. Chaats are incomplete without a sprinkle of these delicious red seeds. Mix them with fruit custard, salads or add a dash of colour to your cake icing with them.

Pumpkin

Although Pumpkin is associated with Halloween, it is anything but scary for your body. Pumpkin is made of 94% water and is low in calories. It is good amounts of vitamins and minerals and a carotenoid beta-carotene which converts into Vitamin A in the body. Pumpkin naturally boosts your immunity with its high Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron and folate content. It is loaded with antioxidants and promotes heart health. Pumpkin perfectly compliments your fit lifestyle since it keeps you healthy and aid in weight-loss. It gives your skin a healthy glow too.

Pumpkin seeds are edible and packed with nutritional benefits too. It can be easily included in your diet and enhances the taste of sweet as well as savoury dishes like pies, custard, soups, vegetables and rice.

Fruits like passion fruit, pear, pineapple, peach and plum deserve a different post of their own! Greens include green peas and parsley while spices like paprika and poppy seeds bring colour and health to your plate. Comfort foods like pasta, mashed potato, pancakes and pies soothe our senses and put us in foodie heaven. Guess I’m there already!

This post is part of the #BlogchatterA2Z challenge by Blogchatter

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