Minty Cucumber Cooler

A refreshing drink containing low calorie, Vitamin C rich cucumbers and protein and vitamin-rich curds. The mint leaves, besides adding flavour, provide small quantities of vitamins and iron.

Ingredients:

1 Kg. fresh cucumber
250 grams skim milk yogurt
A few mint leaves
Salt to taste

Method:

Chop one cucumber finely. Cut the remaining cucumbers into big pieces. Add 3 teacups of water to the big cucumber pieces and cook until soft. When soft, blend in a liquidizer, Cool. Add the yogurt and salt and beat well. Top with crushed ice, mint leaves and the finely chopped cucumber. Alternatively, pound the mint leaves with a dash of green chilli and add to the drink.

Fruity Vegetable Salad

Most of the diet plans asks you to eat healthy and fruits and vegetables is an intergral part. This is an easy way to eat healthy food without lots of work.

Ingredients:

For fruits and vegetables
2 teacups watermelon pieces
1 bowl fresh pineapple pieces
2 tablespoons cut grapes (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped celery
2 medium cucumbers, cut into small pieces
1 chopped capsicum

For the curds parsley dressing
1-1/2 teacups Skim milk yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
½ teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt

For decoration
A few lettuce leaves

Method:

Mix the cut fruits and vegetable pieces and chill. Tie the yogurt in a thin muslin cloth. Hang for 1 hour and allow the water to drain out. Add the remaining ingredients and blend in a mixer.
Put the salad in a bowl and top with the dressing and decorate by surrounding with lettuce leaves. Serve cold.

Apple-Mango frozen Yogurt

Some of us need a dessert after the meal. Its not a bad idea, but eating something healthy is a smart idea. So here goes a smart and short recipe for you...

2 ripe Mangoes
2 apples
1 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extra

Peel and slice mangoes and Apples. Mix all ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth. Pour into freezer can of an ice-cream freezer and freeze for 2 hours.

Variation:
If you prefer the whole fruit rather than this, slice both mangoes and Apples into thin slice of equal size. Mix it with Sugar & yogurt and place the mixture in the refrigerator and eat it after an hour or two. This is healthier than the first option.

You can change the fruits which you are using. It can be bananas and stawberries or any other combination which interests you.