Meet Zahra Abdalla, the half-Sudanese-half-Iranian television personality and food blogger. Abdalla has recently rolled out her debut book, Cooking With Zahra, offering a delectable selection of 100 traditional as well as modern Middle Eastern recipes.
The featured dishes are healthy with honest flavors, inspired by dishes passed down by her family for generations. Here, she shares five tips for creating a well-balanced and nutritious meal that will actually taste good too.
Prepare healthy and nutritious food. Avoid fried items and opt for grilled, baked, steamed or poached options. Simple adjustments in the cooking technique can make the food much healthier without having to compromise on flavor. Also, reduce your sugar and salt intake.
It’s extremely important to stay hydrated, especially during summer. While our bodies can handle long periods without food, they can’t without water. Start your morning with a glass of water, drink fresh homemade juice with a little sugar and try starting your meal with a delicious soup. I usually like to prepare a different soup every day for variety—some of my favorites are lentil soup, cumin-spiced beetroot soup, asparagus, fennel and orange soup, butternut squash soup, and tomato and vermicelli soup. Don’t forget to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables—this is another simple way to stay hydrated.
It’s essential to use fresh and whole produce and prepare delicious and hearty dishes, so you can maximize the nutritional benefits and avoid foods that are typically high in added sugar, additives, preservatives and food coloring.
Prepare a well-balanced menu that includes complex carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables to benefit from all the necessary vitamins and nutrients that you need to sustain yourself.
Avoid preparing too much food and over-eating. Don’t place yourself in situations where over-eating commonly happens. Think of food as fuel – your body needs it to function.
Cookingwithzahra.com, @Cookingwithzahra
Images Courtesy of Zahra Abdalla
