If you still think wellness retreats equal endless rounds of juices and watery soup, you’ve got it all wrong. At the Hilton Shillim Retreat & Spa, you can expect meal time to feature decadent grilled tofu in Malabar curry, beetroot risotto and also a scoop of ice cream with caramelised banana. Executive chef Shubhendu Kadam and his team have perfected the art of creating dishes that aren’t just packed with nutrition but also high on taste. They create simple meals that work with whole grains and seasonal produce, often freshly picked from the on-site farm. If you’ve signed up for their wellness program, Chef Kadam works with your nutritionist to customise a menu to match your health goals. So while you’re opening your mind and body to something new, the food is sure to be just as inspiring. Here are 4 easy diet tips to create these healthful habits in your own kitchen:
4 easy diet tips that you need to adopt right now
Get a good start to the day
“It’s great if your first meal helps gets your body back on track from any unhealthy transgressions from the day before. Consider including detox foods in your breakfast, like fresh vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy products, roasted dry nuts, cereals (oats and barley), millets (sorghum/jowar) and lots of seeds (sunflower).
Find your perfect detox drink
Include a detox drink to cleanse your body, especially if you’ve been experiencing digestive issues, weakness, bloating, nausea, mood swings and troubled skin. The correct detox drink will boost energy levels, cleanse the liver, aid weight loss, reduce inflammation and promote skin health. Try a mix of cucumber, beetroot, tomato, carrot and mint juices. For a probiotic use, try kefir yogurt with seasonal fruits and chia seed pudding.”
Make smart swaps
“We have stopped using unhealthy, processed ingredients. We’ve looked for healthier alternatives that don’t compromise on taste. Instead of refined salt, we use natural Himalayan pink rock salt, black salt and sea salt since they contain lower sodium levels than the regular table salt. We’ve replaced white sugar with jaggery that’s healthier and rich in iron. Some other swaps include using ghee instead of sunflower oil and whole wheat flour in place of refined flour.”
Practice mindful plating
“We need to adapt our behaviour to using smaller plates during meal time. Not only does it help control the portion size, it also gives you the feeling of eating from a full plate. Fill half the plate with green vegetables, and split the other half between lean proteins and whole grains. It’s the easiest way to make sure you get all the essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, good fat and carbohydrates from your meal.”
Their Dharana wellness program starts at Rs 33,500 per night. For more information, click here
