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I recently came across yet another statistics on our (read women’s) constant love affair with diets. If the study outcomes are to believed, the 2012 study from Diet Chef reveals that an average woman spends 17 years on diets in her lifetime [1]. Nearly two-thirds (68%) of all the participants reported either their love of food or a lack of willpower to stick with a diet. The thought of never enjoying a favorite dessert  ever can definitely put a big dent in our resolve to stick with a healthy eating plan. If you can relate to not sticking to eating healthy for any reason, and I certainly do many times, then  “80/20” is an easy-to-follow concept.

The 80/20 concept in the context of a healthy diet entails eating healthy foods 80% of the time and enjoying your favorite not-so-energizing, indulgent foods that your body doesn’t like as much, 20% of the time. If you have crossed 40–yes, 40 years of age– I would highly recommend following this concept with 90/10 ratio. In my experience, the energy you gain by increasing the ratio of healthy foods would motivate you to bring the healthy food proportion close to 100%.

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Frisée & Cherry salad with balsamic vinaigrette celebrates summer. Put together in less than 20 minutes, this chickpea-loaded salad with bitter-sweet flavor profile  makes a quick light lunch.

If you find salads boring or insipid, you will change your opinion after eating this one. This salad features a scrumptious sweet-tarty-bitter-zesty flavor by combining cherries and (slightly) bitter frisée with zesty, tangy, garlicky balsamic vinaigrette….

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This healthy, flavor-dense burger recipe features quinoa, adjuki beans, and sweet potato with Mexican (cuisine) flavors. You can pair it with your favorite burger bun (preferably gluten-free) or add to a salad (my favorite) to create a satisfying meal. You can also use these burger patties as a snack.

The great thing about homemade burgers is that you can make multiple batches and freeze for later use–a healthier and cheaper option to buying frozen burgers from grocery stores. This quinoa & adjuki bean burger with sweet potato recipe is kids-, teens-friendly as well.

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The world of the wide web is replete with articles on the benefits of drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Is it a healthy practice? Read on to find the answers.

If the proof were to be found in celebrity lifestyle, a few actors/models–Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, and Gisele Bündchen to name a few– confess starting their day with warm lemon water in the morning. My own introduction to the morning lemon water started more than a decade ago, out of curiosity after reading an article in some magazine. After following the practice religiously for two weeks, I noticed a significant increase in energy throughout the day. Ever since, I have traded my morning cup of tea with a tall, warm glass of lemon water. …

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This quick avocado toast makes a simple yet satisfying snack–one that keep you full till your next meal. You can also use it as a side dish with lentil salads or soups. And the best thing about this snack (or side dish) is that it is super healthy and you can prepare it on a hungry stomach–in 10 minutes.

Avocado toast has become quite ubiquitous around the globe. During my travels, I have seen it frequently popping up on restaurant menus as a healthy snack or side, especially at the airport cafes.

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The Valentine’s day is around the corner and you are probably getting ready to make the most of the day by reaffirming your affection for the loved ones. How about taking a pause to make a commitment to love yourself as well?

The idea of loving ourselves is often associated with the self-centered notions of  “I, me, and mine.” Although a 2015 study [1] has debunked the link between the use of these personal pronouns with the inflated sense of self, putting oneself first over others is hardly the definition of self-love. Maybe it is worth looking for the clues to the definition of loving ourselves in our  own expressions of love and care toward relationships close to our hearts. In various life roles– a spouse, a friend, a colleague, a parent, or a daughter/son–we are quick to help and shower love others in myriad ways. But we often find shortage of self-compassion, time, and energy when it comes to loving ourselves. …

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Mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy are a combo made in the heaven. A combo that repeats on my Thanksgiving dinner table every year. I love this combination, but I am not a big fan of adding wads of butter or cream to my mashed potatoes. For me the solution is these cauliflower mashed potatoes, which are ultra creamy without any (dairy) cream. While the cauliflower mimics potatoes’ creaminess, it doesn’t cause the blood sugar spike like white potatoes. The mushroom gravy is a great companion and goes well with (vegan) turkey as well. You can totally make the gravy a day or two in advance  to lighten your cooking load on Thanksgiving day. …

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