Desi Diets- Cook According to Your Goals

 

When I first got into bodybuilding, I was lost on how to bulk up effectively. I relied on advice from YouTubers and influencers, but I quickly realized that their diets, like eating tons of pasta, weren’t suitable for my lifestyle. Living in a desi household, it’s unrealistic to follow such plans. Unfortunately, many of us tend to trust popular, Western-based influencers over local nutritionists. However, desi food, when properly adjusted, can offer incredible nutritional value for achieving fitness goals. Instead of dismissing what’s available in our own kitchens, I encourage you to explore how traditional Pakistani cuisine can work for your bodybuilding goals – all while enjoying the delicious flavors we love!

Simply put, fulfilling your protein requirements is probably the easiest hurdle to cross when we look at the food we can eat. Without having to go out of your way, in a general desi household you will have access to Eggs and Paratha for breakfast, any Chicken Salan, Daal and Keema for lunch and dinner. These items already pave the way for a high protein diet on a daily basis if consumed consistently. Additions can be made to your meals to maximise protein intake by consuming Milk and Cottage Cheese along with your breakfast or pair anything up with a snack. Chicken and eggs alone are amazing sources of protein, and if Daal and Keema are also commonly cooked in your household you are definitely good to go as long as you track how much you are consuming according to your goals so as to not overdo or underestimate how much you should be eating.

Eggs are your one-stop solution to fulfilling your protein requirements. Versatile, tasty and easy to make a snack from.

However, not everything is as clear cut as it seems when it comes to Desi foods. While we have a variety of different meats and vegetables included in our diet, the way they are cooked heavily influences their benefits for us, which may even make it unhealthy. To start off basic, the amount of oil used in everyday saalans is something to be wary about if you plan to consume Chicken saalan as your primary source of protein on a daily basis. Although every serving is not something to worry about, eating a consistently oil-heavy food as a meal twice a day is not optimal and you should try to reduce the amount of oil used in the cooking process. There is even a decent amount of oil in foods like biryani, and obviously, it is not something you can avoid but you can definitely do your part in limiting or balancing other foods in your diet as well to not depend fully on a few items that may start becoming unhealthy for you. Give grilled or boiled chicken a shot if you are willing to, or mix and match by cooking chicken in different ways alternatively, that way the factor of possibly getting bored of the same meal might also go away.

Now come along the Rotis and Chawal we see ready to eat in masses in every house around, because they are irreplaceable items and can be consumed with practically anything in our desi households. So when someone aims to cut on their carbs, what is the solution? Cutting out your roti and rice out of your diet is simply not an option for most people, because the hunger that comes with that is severely underestimated. Just having Chicken and Daal on its own or with salad leaves takes serious dedication and might not be optimal for everyone, so for those struggling to cut down on their carbs, definitely try switching from White Rice to Brown Rice and from Roti to Whole Wheat (chakki ka aata) rotis as they have proven to be much better alternatives for those seeking to shed some fat.

Haldi or Turmeric is a muscle-healing agent that many bodybuilders consume to reduce soreness

If we talk about seasonings, sometimes when on a diet, we may definitely find our food to feel bland and might think of dealing with it through a more concentrated seasoning to make it more tasteful. However, too much of anything ends up becoming harmful. A higher amount of salt used can increase blood pressure in those who are already facing similar problems. Even those who do not have any prior health risks, should in general avoid consuming too much salt on a daily basis. Similarly, mirch and masala in your food increases metabolism which is great for digestion and burning fat, but once again, using too much in your foods can lead to acidity. For recovery, Haldi (Turmeric) is a widely popular muscle-healing medicinal spice that many consume to reduce soreness and inflammation after workouts.

Although it is complicated to figure out, managing your daily requirements for your goals with a desi diet is thankfully still very possible with some advice and experimenting. Your daily dose of saalans can use low oil and keep masala moderate, you can switch out your sides from white to brown, and you can make the high protein foods available to us as a general healthy snack along with some vegetables. People should base off their general diet from what they have access to easily as whatever is most convenient ends up being what we stick to in the long-term, so definitely look into everything you have around you, and if you can find some gaps, don't hesitate to fill them in with any other items you wish to add to your diet.

Research: https://www.healthytruth.com/blog/the-benefits-of-turmeric-for-muscle-pain/?srsltid=AfmBOoommJAWOrXcN2mjAHYEPs3dyMafDIvL9rIUgOErGtCMoxsMXQnQ (The Benefits of Turmeric For Muscle Pain)

https://www.lakanto.com/blogs/food-nutrition/white-vs-brown-rice-bread (Are Brown Rice and Wheat Bread Actually Healthier)

https://www.steadfastnutrition.in/blogs/news/high-protein-indian-foods (15 High Protein Indian Foods, Benefits, And Ideal Diet)