Millet – these tiny pearls of wholegrain reminds me of the colorful Love birds we used to keep at home. I and my brother were assigned the job of  feeding the birds with a handful of Bajra (a millet variety) before leaving to school. The same Bajra was also hulled in a stone mortal and pestle by mom to remove the husks and use the grains for making Khichdi and other recipes.

But I am sure mom did not know that these tiny grains are a powerhouse of nutrients and one of the best gluten free foods. I wish she could read all the info regarding Millets and feel proud of introducing millets in our diet at such early stage, thanks mom

It seems just yesterday when I celebrated the birthdays of my children in January this year. How time flies…three more months and its new year again! The series AFBHLS which I started a few months back is one of my most favorite projects this year on my blog. Getting to know how the foodie friends manage to stay healthy amidst a busy schedule of cooking, work and blogging is really inspiring.

And what better than having a registered dietitian who also makes real food taste great on AFBHLS! EA Stewart from the blog Spicy RD mixes together a handful of nutrition advice, a dollop of delicious recipes, a pinch of gluten free tips and a dash of spice to your life.

A wonder grain and a super food - Quinoa is finding its place in the most modern kitchens of many health enthusiast again. Quinoa is actually a seed and is related to Spinach family. When cooked this becomes light & fluffy and gives a nutty taste of grain. Close to one of the most complete foods in nature, Quinoa is a great substitute for many grains which are hard to digest and to some lentils which lack certain chemicals which are present in Quinoa.

Come winter and markets are abuzz with nuts and dried fruits. Walnut is always associated with a small hammer my mom used to sit with and break the hard shells off this wonder food. The reason I avoided eating walnuts during my childhood days. I was more for pine nuts with thin and delicate shells.

Now that there is good quality of shelled walnuts available in the market, this health nut is a must in my pantry especially in the baking goodies.

Goldmine of nutrients in small bundles- Nuts are a great foods that heal. Though moderation is the key word when one reverts to a diet on Nuts. Though they come with a high price tag, but just a handful of these nuts are enough for a day and can make a great difference to a healthy living.

Foods that Heal is a series that brings into light various herbs, veggies, spices, nuts, seeds and fruits which have healing properties. We can get numerous health benefits by including them into our daily diet.

Sunflower seeds are one such goldmine of nutrients. The seeds are extracted from the sunflowers after removing the petals. These seeds are slightly gray in color enveloped in a dark brown shell.

Where an apple a day keeps the doctor away, Garlic will surely keep everyone at bay The stinky herb which has acquired a mixed reputation due to its strong & pungent flavors and the various health benefits associated with it.

For many it’s a wonder food while for others Garlic does not exist! My grandmother has never touched a garlic pod in her life due to ethical reasons. But my father, a doctor by profession always made sure that garlic is an integral part of cooking at our home.

Yes the staunch aroma and pungent taste is good enough to deter many health enthusiastic from trying out this super food. But the medicinal benefits attached to the humble herb are a perfect reward to your health.

“ It’s the ultimate in good nutrition news, when adding a favorite ingredient increases the health benefits of the foods we’re already enjoying” Said nutrition expert Wendy Bazillian.

And Cinnamon holds this saying true to the last word. Cinnamon is a spice that can act as a medicine too apart from giving aromatic flavors to the cooked dishes.

Cottage Cheese is probably one of the most versatile man made food products in food industry. Paneer as known in Hindi is widely used in North Indian cuisine and is gaining popularity among the health conscious. It can be easily transformed into numerous recipes including desserts, curries, bread, cakes and what not, giving a peculiar creamy texture to the cooked dish.

A dietary staple in many parts of the world, Curds or Yogurt is an amusing and accidental discovery for mankind. Curd has been around with us for ages and is used profusely in cooking and for its medicinal properties.

Components: The basic and the most natural form of curd is made with milk, which is curdled using culture (Jaman), and other acidic substances such as lemon and vinegar. Soybean curd which is made by curdling the soy milk is another healthy option.