Green Kitchen and Healthy Food Tips for Millennials

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Author – Faith McGregor

Millennials are changing the way we eat. This brave generation prefers to cook and prepare their own meals with healthy and natural ingredients. This means their grocery shopping looks different than it did for Baby Boomers and other demographics, as do their cooking habits, choice of appliances, and recipes they use. With each new year, the world is turning more toward a healthier lifestyle, and Millennials are the ones who are leading the way. Here is an attempt to discover some eco-friendly cooking habits and delicious healthy food tips for Millennials that should guide other generations too.

Redefining healthy eating

If you were to ask anyone older than 40 to tell you their idea of healthy food, you would probably hear adjectives like ‘low-fat’, ‘low-calorie content’, and ‘high fiber’. If you then ask Millennials about their idea of healthy eating, they will tell you it is all about locally-sourced, sustainable, and natural food. That is why many restaurant menus today list the origin farm where the vegetable is grown or offer organic alternatives to a dish. Another top driver when buying food is the convenience. Millennials don’t want to spend hours preparing a traditional dish; they would much rather try out a heat-and-eat option or eat raw food.

Curious and open-minded

The internet has transformed the world into a global village, and Millennials are its most noticeable residents. It is no wonder they are so open-minded about learning and trying new things. They don’t shy away from ethnic cuisine, strange ingredients, or vegan options. Few decades ago, the Mediterranean kitchen was considered to be a staple of healthy eating, but with Millennials being willing to explore further, new culinary heroes are on the rise. One of the most prominent among them is Indian cuisine.

Indian food is very much connected with the science of Ayurveda and it is considered to provide all the important nutrients for the body. It is mostly based on vegetables, legumes, grains, beans, and fruits, which supply a person with all the needed proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. A typical Indian meal consists of natural protein, resistant starch, and good carbs.

Indian recipes for Healthy Millennials

Indian cuisine has plenty to offer for health-concerned Millennials, it is time to share some of the healthiest recipes from this part of the globe:

Mint-cucumber raita

VegIndianRecipe

This cooling dish is perfect for hot summer days, and you can eat it alone or served with practically anything, ranging from flatbread to rice dishes.

Ingredients:
● 1 large cucumber (grated), ½ cup mint leaves (finely chopped), 2 cups thick yogurt (whisked until smooth), ¼ tsp red chili powder, ¾ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp sugar (brown if you want it healthier), Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Remove the extra water from the grated cucumbers by pressing them into a towel
2. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
3. Leave to cool and serve

Sookhi Moong Ki Daal

This tasty lentil dish contains no saturated fat or cholesterol. It is a very fulfilling meal that can be served with flatbread.

Ingredients:
● 1 cup split yellow lentil, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 3 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp cumin seeds
2 green chilies (finely chopped), 1 tbsp lime juice, Ginger (grated) to taste, Salt to taste

Preparation
1. Wash the lentil thoroughly
2. Boil in a deep pan, covered with water and seasoned with turmeric and salt
3. Cook until the lentil is nice and soft, but not squishy
4. In another pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add chopped green chili and cumin seeds
5. Fry for a couple of minutes and add ginger. Fry for one more minute
6. Add the cooked lentil, and mix well
7. If required, season with salt
8. Remove from heat and drizzle with lime juice
9. Serve hot

Green Kitchen goes beyond the plate

Millennials’ pursuit of green living practices goes way beyond the food they eat, right up to the way they equip their homes and lead their lives. Since Millennials pay much attention to how we use Earth’s precious resources, it is only natural they insist on using Energy Star-rated appliances for their kitchen, such as Frigidaire, which, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency made outstanding contributions to preserving the environment through energy efficiency.

Greening up is not only investing in energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly cookware. It also includes our habits. Millennials understand that well, and they are doing whatever is in their power to nurture eco-friendly habits. You can try it too:
● Clean the coils on the rear of the fridge regularly.
● Use an ice tray instead of the automatic ice maker.
● Match the size of the pan to the size of the burner.
● Don’t preheat the oven.
● Wait until the dishwasher is full until you turn it on.

Centuries of irresponsible human behavior have taken their toll on our planet. Millennials are the first generation that has taken this problem seriously and started doing something about it. And what is a better place to start with this green revolution than the kitchen?

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