After much partying and indulgence all these months, it's time to detox and eat healthy! Kanchan G Kabra gives you some options...

Apple Sandesh
Makes 8 pieces
Time required: 15 minutes refrigeration time

250 g skimmed milk paneer
2 tsp rose water
3 - 4 tbsp powdered sugar
150 g fresh apples, finely chopped or grated
10 paper cups

Blend the paneer, rose water and sugar in a mixer for a few seconds. Divide it into eight portions and shape each into a pedha. Place a tbsp of the chopped apples on to the sandesh and press to make them firm. Arrange the pieces in paper cups. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Dot each with any desired food colour and serve cold.

Health Tip: A tasty, nutritious sweet which is easy to make. It is rich in protein and calcium.
Total calories per serve: 32 kcal
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Mint Red Soup
Serves: Four
Time required: 20 minutes

250 g red tomatoes, chopped
30 g capsicum, chopped
25 g onions, chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 green chilli, chopped
1/2 tsp pepper powder
10 g sugar (optional)
salt to taste
30 g mint leaves, finely chopped, for the garnish

Mix together and pressure-cook the tomatoes, capsicum, onion, ginger paste and green chilli for five minutes. Allow to cool and blend in a liquidiser till smooth. Add water to obtain the required consistency. Heat the blended mixture in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the seasoning and mix well. Remove from heat and garnish with mint leaves. Serve hot.

Health Tip: Tomatoes are high in potassium and Vitamins A, B and C. Capsicum helps to dissolve blood clots and ultimately reduces the risk of heart attack. This combination in the soup makes the soup richer in Vitamin C, calcium and chromium, while also aiding digestion.
Total calories per serve: 20 kcal
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Italian Tawa Sabzi With Garlic Bread

Serves: Five Time required: 35 minutes
100 g French beans, chopped
100 g macaroni, boiled
100 g broccoli, with the florets separated
100 g mixed peppers, chopped
100 g baby corn, boiled and thickly sliced
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp oregano
salt to taste
For the topping:
100 g grated cottage cheese
For the salsa:
300 g tomatoes, blanched
1 onion, chopped
1 capsicum, chopped
4 - 5 green chillies, chopped
3 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
salt to taste
100 g spring onions, finely chopped
8 to 10 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp butter

To prepare the salsa:

Blend together the tomatoes, chopped onions, capsicum and green chillies in a mixer till smooth. Heat the butter in a pan and add the spring onions and garlic. Cook for two minutes. Add the pureed vegetables, sugar and salt and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat. Add the tomato sauce and vinegar. Set aside the salsa.
In a pan, heat the butter and mix the French beans. Cook for four to five minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for another two minutes. Add the peppers, macaroni, baby corn, white pepper and salt. Cover and cook for five minutes. Spread the vegetables in individual serving dishes. Sprinkle the oregano and pour the hot salsa over the vegetables. Spread the cottage cheese on the tomato gravy. Serve hot with garlic bread.

Health Tip: An excellent combination of macaroni with fresh vegetables to get a complex balanced meal with all the nutrients.
Total calories per serve: 81 kcal
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Pasta With Chicken Curry
Serves: Five
Time required: 35 minutes

150 g pasta (boiled till tender)
250 g chicken, cut into small pieces
1 tbsp butter
salt to taste
1 tbsp green chilli paste
1/2 tsp garam masala
250 g tomato gravy
50 g red pepper, finely chopped
For the tomato gravy:
250 g tomatoes, blanched
2 onions, finely chopped
4-5 cloves garlic
1/2 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
1/3 tsp carom seeds
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp sugar
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
a few sprigs coriander leaves, finely chopped for the garnish
To prepare the tomato gravy:
Heat the oil in a pan, add the onions, garlic, ginger and carom seeds and fry for two minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until soft. Allow to cool. Blend in a liquidiser. Add the chilli powder, garam masala powder, sugar and salt and boil for five minutes. Set aside. This can be stored to be used later as required.
Heat the butter in a pan and add the chicken and salt. Cook for five minutes. Add the green chilli paste, garam masala powder and then, add the pasta. Mix well and place on individual serving dishes. Heat the tomato gravy and add the red pepper. Cook for two minutes. Pour this over the pasta and chicken curry. Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Health Tip: This continental style dish is well balanced, with the pasta supplying ample complex carbohydrates. The tomato gravy provides Vitamin C, while the chicken gives proteins, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
Total calories per serve: 112 kcal
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Spinach Surprise
Serves: Six
Time required: 15 minutes plus steaming time

250 g whole-wheat flour (coarsely ground)
50 g Bengal gram flour
250 g spinach leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp green chilli paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp sugar (optional)
250 g curd
1 tsp red chilli powder
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Combine all the ingredients well to form a soft dough. Divide the dough into four parts. Roll each into a cylindrical shape, about a palm's length each. Steam the rolls for about 40 minutes. Cut them into thin slices. Serve hot with coriander chutney or any chutney of your choice.
You could use fenugreek leaves instead of spinach.

Health Tip: Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A and iron. It is also wonderful in weight-loss diets.
Total calories per serve: 151 kcal
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Purple Mocktail
Serves: Four
Time required: 10 minutes

200 g black grapes (seedless)
100 g fresh pineapples, finely chopped
100 g apples, finely chopped
1/2 tsp cumin powder
a pinch of salt

Blend the fruits in a liquidiser, with a little water to obtain a smooth mixture. Strain through a sieve. Add water to get the desired consistency. Add the cumin powder and salt and mix well. Serve in tall glass over crushed ice.

Health Tip: Apples have high fibre content, are good medicine for the heart and lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Grape juice inactivates viruses and soothes tooth decay. Pineapple contains Vitamin C, iron and other valuable minerals. This cool refreshing drink is a good source of calcium.
Total calories per serve: 54 kcal