Health
Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache
02 months ago
Apologies for stealing the title of a famous book which teaches how to bake cakes to whoopie pies from vegetables. What vegetables? Yes! You read that right.
In our part of the world, I’m not aware of many people who consciously look after what they eat. Almost every day I come across a new bakery or café opening up. It has also sprouted up as one of the most popular home based businesses (after perhaps running a boutique?).
Anyway! Unable to keep away from temptations I began my journey to explore healthy alternates. I couldn’t completely give up on food, can you? One day I was browsing through misc. pages created by enthusiastic foodies when I came across a tray of the most spectacular coloured cupcakes I had ever seen. Half-heartedly, I browsed through the entire album telling myself I shouldn’t even be looking at it assuming the brilliant crimson More >
Guest Blog: Being a Vegetarian in Pakistan by Omar Farooq
14 months ago
by Fatima Arif
in Health
Omar Farooq is a final year undergrad business student at Forman Christian College. You can find him on Twitter @Omarfarooq_
I, the mutant specimen, was born into a meat devouring, red blooded Punjabi family. It would be disingenuous of me to say that I do not like the taste of meat. As a matter of fact, I still crave for a juicy steak or chicken barbeque, the common belief that the smell of meat makes a vegetarian nauseate does not hold true in my case, on the contrary it makes me feel weak at the knees. Now that you know little my background you can appreciate my family’s outrage and disappointment when I told them I had decided to be a vegetarian. I had a coming out moment with my mother when I first professed my love for vegetables; her nonplussed reaction after few moments was, ‘but More >
Nutrition Check – Benefits of Figs
2As I returned home from completing my daily mileage, exhausted, I stepped into the kitchen right away. My aim was to have some water before I could decide what I would like to have for breakfast. Standing next to the water dispenser as I was sipping water, a bunch of fresh figs caught my eyes. I have often seen these resting on my grandmother’s nightstand. But since I was a very finicky eater back then I never dared trying them.
Being excited and thrilled by the endorphin rush, I decided to taste a few. It has been long since I have quit eating boxed cereals, sugary jams, fattening butters, and the likes. My breakfast comprises of warm glass of milk, fresh fruits, peanut butter and bread made out of unbleached flour. On days I’m feeling too generous; I treat myself with kabab sandwich or an omelette. Later when I More >
Your Brain – A Terrible Master or Fantastic Servant?
16 months ago
When worries are left unchecked they creep into the mind and give voice to the inner heckler. Instead of whispering into your ear, “it’s going to be alright,” the voices in your head clutter your thoughts and weaken your confidence, shredding your self-esteem away.
Whether it’s an exam you have been studying for, a job interview, or you have been asked to speak on the stage in front of a huge crowd, an inner voice which should be your ‘best friend’ becomes your biggest ‘disbeliever’. It will keep coming up with excuses, sneer at you or provoke you to ‘give up’. Huh? The one who should have been your strongest pillar when the world turns a back on you, is asking you to give up?
Call it cruelty at its best!
When you have been asked to make a decision about a very important matter in your life, friends, family, More >
Let’s Rejoice for It’s a Day of Eid!!!
86 months ago
Your guide to celebrate an eco-friendly Eid-ul-Adha this year .
The Day of Arafah has passed and Haj has been performed. Muslims across the world are getting ready to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha -the festival celebrated to remember Prophet Ibraheem’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il as an act of obedience towards Allah.
Similar to all our important festivals, preparations are in full swing. Moms are busy planning Eid lunches and dinners, going over the grocery and to-do lists over and over again to ensure everything has been brought in advance and properly stocked. Some of us are ‘still’ running to the tailor for our Eid dresses or are yet to head to the shopping mall to buy one. Do not forget the mehndi appointment in the evening where sometimes one has to sit for countless hours waiting for their turn. Due to the immense rush some salons treat their customers More >
