low-fat snacks you can carry to work

It is always convenient to munch on crackers or readymade snacks when you are hungry. But just a few mouthfuls of these fat and calorie laden food items, have the potential to topple your entire day's diet plan. So, why not carry to work something healthy-that you can eat guilt free. Try these easy options.

DRY FRUIT CHAAT RECIPE

Ingredients:

Poha - 1/2 cup

Peanuts - 1/2 cup

Roasted Gram - 1/2 cup

Almonds - 20

Cashew Nuts - 20

Pistachios - 20

Chaat Masala Powder - 2 tsp

Dates - 15 to 20, seedless, chopped

Raisins - 15 to 20

Salt as per taste

QUICK PASTA RECIPE

Ingredients:

300 gms - pasta of your choice (i tried fusilli)

1 tomato - finely chopped

1 onion - cut in rings

1 small capsicum - julienned

1″ ginger

3-4 cloves garlic

2 green chillies

salt to taste

2 tsp oil for saute

2 tbsp - tomato sauce

Method:

- Bring pasta to boil till tender. Drain and then sieve through cold water (this retains the colour of the pasta, in case you are using multi-coloured pasta).

- Grind the chillies, ginger, garlic and tomato sauce together.

- In a pan, heat oil, and saute the onions & capsicum, then add the chopped tomatoes and the chilli-ginger-garlic-sauce-paste.

- Add salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.

- Add water IF you want a gravy.

- Add the drained pasta, toss into the masala and cook for 2 minutes.

Method:

-Separately dry roast the poha, peanuts and roasted gram.

-Transfer them to a large bowl.

-Add the almonds, cashews and pistachios to the bowl.

-Add chaat masala powder, dates, raisins and salt.

-Mix well and serve

LOW-CALORIE SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

Carrot - 2 tblsp, chopped

Tomato - 2 tblsp, finely chopped

Cucumber - 2 tblsp, chopped

Onion - 2 tblsp, sliced

Ginger - 1 tblsp, finely chopped

Green Chillies - 2, finely chopped

Soy Sauce - 1 tblsp

Lemon Juice - 1/2 tblsp

Sugar - 1 tsp (optional)

Salt as per taste

Method:

- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.

- Toss well to mix.

- Transfer to serving plates.

- Serve.

MACARONI SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked cold macaroni or any pasta

1 cup cooked mixed vegetables (carrot, beans etc)

1 cucumber, chopped

1/4 cup toasted almonds

1 tsp chopped coriander leaves

200 gm non-fat yogurt

Method:

- Mix all ingredients together and decorate with extra coriander leaves.

MUSHROOM AND TOMATO TOAST RECIPE

Ingredients:

Virgin Olive Oil - 1 tblsp

Onion - 1, finely chopped

Jalapeno - 2, chopped, seeded

Button Mushrooms - 250 gms,

washed and thinly sliced

Tomato - 1, ripe, chopped

Chilli Powder - a pinch

Coriander Powder - a pinch

Cumin Powder - a pinch

Salt as per taste

Bread Slices - 8, toasted

Method:

- Heat oil in a large pan.

- Add onions and jalapeno.

- Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent.

- Add the mushrooms and tomato.

- Cook till the mushrooms are soft.

- Add the chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and salt.

- Saute for a minute or two.

- Spread the mushroom-tomato mixture on 4 slices of toasted bread.

- Cover with the remaining 4 slices.

- Cut into triangles and serve with ketchup.