Organic food nourishes the body and purifies the spirit, not just of the individual but also of our planet. Here is the what, why and how of organics – to make your transition to organic, swifter and smoother

An Organic Family

When their daughter Riyanka was born, both Nikhil and Jigna Shah were concerned about her health as she was often down with fever and other minor health problems. Allopathy for such a tiny baby did not seem like a good idea to the health-conscious couple so they started asking around for an alternative. This is when they accidentally discovered organic foods and the numerous benefits it offered. Within months, Riyanka's health had improved with organic food, and the couple's belief in this wonderful alternative diet was reiterated. Both wanted to spread the organic awareness and this is how Greenways, an organic retail outlet, was born a decade ago. It was a time when little or no awareness about organics was present and often they had to spell organic to family and friends and tell them what it is. They began selling about four or five products but today their wonderful little shop at Carmichael Road, Mumbai, stocks over 100 products and caters to a large number of regular clients. What makes this family special is that at most times they remain, healthy, cheerful and enthusiastic. They believe their food choice is responsible for their glowing faces and high energy levels. Jigna shares a few amazing organic recipes with us to show us that not only is organic food the best health option is can also be unbelievably tasty:
(All the products used are organic and are available at Greenways)

Baked sev puri
Ingredients:
100 gm whole wheat puri
100 gm baked sev
I boiled potato
I chopped onion
A little date chutney
A little coriander chutney
A little red chilli, garlic chutney
Chopped coriander
Rock salt to taste
Method:
Take the puri, place a slice of potato, chopped onions and top with all the three chutneys. Finally sprinkle a little rock salt and garnish with coriander and sev.

Moong dalia
Ingredients:
50 gm moong dalia
½ cup boiled peas
½ cup chopped onions
2 grated tomatoes
1 tsp of ginger, garlic and chilli paste
few leaves of kadi patta
¼ tsp chilli powder, turmeric
1 tsp groundnut oil
rock salt to taste
Method:
Soak the dalia 1 ½ times over with water and let it stand for 10-15 minutes. Take a kadai, add the oil and sauté the paste. Add the onions and tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. After this, add the peas and all the masalas with the dalia and cook on low flame for about 10-15 minutes.

Bajri seviya
Ingredients:
200 gm bajri seviya
2 cups of mixed vegetables boiled (beans, carrots and cauliflower)
1 chopped onion
1-2 tsp of paste made with red chillies and garlic
1 ½ tsp sesame oil
rock salt to taste

Method:
Boil 700 ml of water. Steep the seviya in this water for two minutes. Strain the water. Take a kadhai, add oil and sauté onion and the paste. After a few minutes add the vegetables. Again, after cooking for a few minutes add the seviya with a little rock salt according to your taste.