Spa Cuisine – An Introduction
One of the recent growing sectors in Indian hospitality is the Spa Industry and most of us have started our own personal journey without having much idea into what really makes it a complete one stop solution. Spa is a Belgian concept where there was abundance of hot water springs which people used in various treatments. When extended it means ”solus per aqua” meaning healing through water. But today it just not only stands for the physical well being but new dimensions like mental and spiritual well being are also being explored. Our topic would focus on the cuisine part of the concept knowing fully well that the first well being is attained through our habit of eating. Our spa cuisine concept is oriented more on a locally available fresh organic produce. The vast array of fruits and vegetables locally grown and sold makes the concept even more interesting and helps to dispel the notion of a boring and monotonous food practice. Most of us actually know about the healthy eating practice which nurtures the soul and the body but lack of will power and limited control on senses dilutes the entire knowledge. The spa menu is planned in such a way that 60% of the meal consists of carbohydrate, 10 – 15 % poly or mono unsaturated fat & the rest proteins. A wide range of soy products in the form of tofu tikka, tofu mutter masala, okra breads & soy yogurt substitute the protein requirement of the vegetarian guests along with the organic lentils. Lots of organic green vegetables & herbs are featured in the spa menu. Mountain grains such as Jhangora, which is known for its therapeutic properties is widely used in its Dessert & Main course preparations. It helps to make your own organic herb garden ensures the steady supply of rare herbs & spices required for the kitchen. A wide array of lettuce leaves, fresh vegetables, organic sea vegetables & sprouted beans also ensure the nutrient requirement for a healthy living. Whole wheat breads & saturated fat free salsas are the other features of the spa cuisine. An array of refined sugar free home made fresh fruit preserves & jams will complement the whole-wheat croissants & other morning bakeries in the break fast table along with protein rich eggbeater omelette. Even though the emphasis is on the organic vegetarian menu with lots of soy products, there are ample choices for people eating meat and fish, eg. free-range chicken as well as fresh river water fish. Steaming, pan-frying or pit roasting will ensure that the you won’t get any extra fat on their plate. Choice of organic brown rice pulao or baby potatoes or whole-wheat pastas will be the perfect starch, which can complement the main dish. One of the well known fact is that most of the fish and seafood are organic until they are farmed where they are given hormonal feed for fast growth and early harvesting. The desserts are based on the fresh fruit puree or unrefined sugar such as molasses, jaggery or corn syrup. It is our prime motto to ensure that none of our guest gets the empty calorie food. The challenges though are the availability and high prices which acts as a deterrent, but you can always start small until you are fully comfortable. Remember investing in organics and spa food today is a big saving for tomorrow from the doctor’s fees and medicine cost. You can also enquire about the same from the supermarkets who in turn can ensure that the prices remain within the budget for easy affordability. Remember to start your day with some kind of exercise depending upon the amount of time available to you but anywhere between 30-60 minutes are good enough to refresh your cells and carry the oxygen throughout your body. The most important meal of your day is breakfast and try not to skip it at any cost. You can start your day with helping of fruits and fruit based products like juices, fruit spreads, fruit marmalade. Cereals, whole wheat toast, sprouts should be consumed regularly to make the digestive tract stronger. Take a light lunch comprised of salads, soups and sandwiches. Try to eat heavy food which will make you sluggish thus impairing your digestion. The dinner should then should not become an excuse to stuff yourself to the brim which is reversing all the goods that you have accumulated through sensible eating through the day. I look forward to touch upon Ayurveda and Ayurvedic diet as I saw some curious guests on Puneet’s facebook. Hope you enjoy the Spa cuisine guidelines and try to make use of them in whatever way possible. Remember, it in your own hand to keep yourself happy and healthy. Tags: sambhar, roti, lentil, desi, dal, bhatura, kulfi, handi, chana, tandoor
