GORDHAN PATEL, Ph.D., D.Sc. – FOOD RELATED

Scientist – Inventor – Pioneer

DR. PATEL’S HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS SALAD -- A SALAD WHICH IS A MEAL

Vegetables and ingredients for Dr. Patel's nutritious salad — Vegetables as mushroom, broccoli and cauliflower, cooked beans/chana or sprouted beans/mung (all rich in protein), cabbage, cucumber, carrots, radish, green onion/scallion, tomatoes, bell pepper, lettuce, …(this is a meal itself, it provides protein, carbo, mineral & vitamin (less sugar & fat)

Vegetable chopper used to cut and chop vegetables — Cut/chop the vegetables, add in a bowl and mix. Can be kept for at least a few days if stored in a refrigerator. I use a vegetable chopper in the company for large quantity.

Use sugar free dressing of your choice or use salt, pepper, lemon juice.. etc.

One can add a variety of other small fruits such as blue berry, fresh chopped turmeric, dry fruits such as dried grapes/raisin, and chopped nuts (peanuts, cashew nuts, almond…etc.)

BALANCED DIET OF A VEGETARIAN RESEARCH SCIENTIST

American food pyramid showing grains and legumes, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, dairy products, fats and oils, nuts and sugar

This is an American Food Pyramid for a balanced diet for a healthy living. It shows what and how much food we should eat every day.

Accordingly, we supposed to eat (i) more grains & legumes, vegetables and fruits (ii) less of meet & dairy products and (iii) least of nuts, fats and salts.
And still, we need to eat all of these every day!!!
Barely our diet is balanced.
How many of us eat all these in proper proportions every day?
Typically, we eat roti (wheat), a curry made from one vegetable and some milk, yogurt, or soup (daal) and may be a fruit every day.
We need to eat a wide variety food items in proper proportions every day to get all nutrients required for healthy living.
We need macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates & fat) in large, tens of grams quantities & micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in micro-milligrams quantities.
In contrast to proteins, fats & carbohydrates, our body does not store most of the water-soluble vitamins & minerals.
Excess vitamins and minerals are discarded by our body (urination).
Hence, we need to have well balanced diet every day, i.e., eat mix grains, mix legumes, mix vegetables, variety of fruits and nuts every day.
We also need to chew them finely so they can be digested and absorbed in blood.

DR. PATEL’S BALANCED DIET

I was eating normal dishes everyday until I was 60 when I felt my age. I read and understood the significance of food/diet (balanced diet!!). At age of 60+ for the first time, I really learned to eat. Today, at 80, I am still working full time in my lab.

A PROPOSAL FOR BALANCED DIET FOR VEGETARIANS (ASIANS)

• Roti made from multi-grain and/or Khichadi.

• Legume/Kathol Curry: Made from 5-10 legumes/pulses

• Vegetable curry: Made from 5-10 vegetables

Mixed vegetables and sambhar vegetable packets

Except for the excess oil, Surati undhiyu is a good curry as it has at least five different well-cooked vegetables

• Nuts: A mix variety or still better a butter made from ~5 different nuts (peanut, almond, walnut, pistachio….)

• Sautéing(Vagar/tadka) - spices:

These are excellent disease preventive food items in Indian dishes

• Fruits or Juices: A cup of mix fruits or a juice made from 3-5 fruits

• Dry fruits

If you eat the way I proposed, it is likely you would get almost all needed nutrients everyday. A truly balanced food!!

You must exercise daily, get enough sleep, less tension, healthy environment, good hygienic practices…etc

Chewing solid food is essential. Finely chewed food is easily digested and the nutrients are absorbed in blood.

A BALANCED DISH

SUGGESTIONS

Exercise routinely.
Consult your physician and follow his/her instructions