by Jagmeeta Thind Joy
THE first thing you notice when you meet Namita Jain is her vivacious smile and effervescent nature. The adage you are what you eat certainly reflects in this wellness and health expert’s personality. Not a stranger to Chandigarh – she calls it one of her favourite cities – Jain has been visiting the city many times for work in the field of nutrition and health as well as managing director of Kishco, the iconic cutlery brand.
Her recent visit coincides with the launch of her latest book and also three new products. Having authored over 12 books, the leading health columnist in various newspapers and magazines admits her latest book took a while to put together. Titled ‘Low Fat, Low Guilt’, the book provides an insight into the challenges dieters face and includes healthy recipes and lifestyle tips interspersed with health advisories.
“The biggest challenge today is to eat healthy without compromise in taste but keeping calories in check. There were so many times clients would ask for diets that would include their favourite dishes but wanted recipes that were low in fat. That got me thinking and I decided to put together a book,” informs the Mumbai-based expert.
The recipes which have been featured in the book have been given healthy twists, while the calorific elements are kept to a minimum. “It includes low-calorie recipes of soups, salads, wraps, toasts, rice dishes, pastas and dips, making healthy eating a pleasurable experience,” adds Jain.
Felicitated with a post doctorate in wellness from Young Scientist University, America, the book stands testament to Jain’s expertise in the field of health and wellness. “I spent a lot of time in research and development. I wanted to break the myth that healthy food can’t be tasty. Of course, there is a slight compromise but the health factor makes it worth it,” explains Jain, who is also a consultant to the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
The new book features a mixture of vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes and also lists common myths. Some of the recipes featured in the book use olive oil instead of butter, yogurt instead of mayonnaise, egg whites instead of whole eggs and whole grain instead of refined. It highlights the method in which food is cooked to promote healthy eating – steam, broil and lightly sauté instead of frying or over-cooking.
“I find people in Chandigarh very health and fitness conscious. But many of them are looking at sudden weight loss via crash diets which is more detrimental in the longer run,” points out the expert. “The problems associated with crash diets are electrolyte imbalances, anaemia, calcium and iron deficiency. It is important to follow a sensible diet to safeguard your well-being and ensure that the lost pounds don’t come back on,” Jain adds.
‘Low Fat, Low Guilt’ is available across bookstores and also online. The book launch also coincided with the launch of three new products by Kishco. “We have recently introduced a special bone marrow spoon, a baby feeding spoon and a spork, which combines a spoon, fork and knife all in one,” informs Jain.
