CitySaheli asked health expert Anita Mirchandani for the healthy picnic treats she loves.  She provided us with the following traditional South Asian favorites, each with a modern and healthy twist!

Chicken Tikka Wrap
Take 1 medium sized whole-wheat wrap. Top each slice with chicken tikka pieces. To make chicken tikka, cut boneless, skinless chicken breast into cubes, marinate for a minimum of 4 hours in nonfat yogurt, red chili, a pinch of salt, curry powder, 1 teaspoon garlic and 1-2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger and bake for 24-30 minutes (until tender yet cooked). For the best results, marinate overnight.  Add shredded lettuce, chopped red onions, and a teaspoon of spicy brown mustard.

Sweet Potato Chaat
To make this delicious mix, you need to buy a packet of sev (thin, crispy pieces that you put on top of the main ingredients) as well as a sweet chutney also known as bhel chutney. Mix chickpeas, chopped sweet potato (boiled and cooked), chopped red onion, bhel chutney and nonfat yogurt. The yogurt should be mixed with a 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons chaat masala (you can purchase this as a packet) and a pinch of salt to make it a thinner consistency than yogurt.  Sprinkle the sev on top.

Moong Salad
Boil Moong dal (small, olive green colored). Once cooked, drain and mix with pinch of salt, chopped onion and 2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice.  Add chaat masala to taste.

Spinach Patties
In a saucepan, cook spinach, shredded carrots, grated onions, finely chopped potatoes, 2 tablespoons chaana dal (a type of legume you can find at Indian grocery stores), and chopped tomato in 2 tablespoons water.  Add a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon each of freshly grated garlic and ginger, 1 teaspoon each of tumeric, curry powder and fresh cumin. Cook until all the ingredients are mushy and until the dal is soft as well. Turn the heat off and use a hand-mixer to combine the ingredients more finely. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture and then combine until the ingredients are dry. Make whatever size patties you desire and grill in a pan with a teaspoon of olive oil. Serve with ketchup or make a sandwich out of the patties!

Chutney Sandwich
Take 2 slices of whole wheat bread, spread 1-2 tablespoons mint chutney on each slice, add a slice of provolone or swiss cheese, sliced cucumber and sliced tomato with a sprinkle of garlic salt and black pepper.

The furnishings within our homes and offices, and some of the materials used in the construction of buildings, can emit chemicals such as formaldehyde (found in foam insulation, carpet, paints, plywood, glues, grocery bags and more), benzene (found in inks, detergents, plastics/rubber, synthetic fibers and more), and trichloroethylene (used in dry cleaning/carpet cleaning, adhesives, paint removers, etc).  Not to mention the carbon dioxide we exhale with every breath we take!  

What can we do to clean the air we breathe without buying fancy air purifying machines within our homes?  Hit up your local flower district or nursery and buy some PLANTS, PLANTS, PLANTS!  Not only do plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen (something we all learned in elementary science), but NASA researchers have found that there are specific plants that actually filter out other harmful toxins as well!

CitySaheli has put together a list of the top air purifying plants to help you create a green, clean and natural indoor living space for yourself.  As a rule of thumb, keep one 6 inch potted plant per 100 sq. feet of indoor living space.

Top 15 Air Purifying Plants

1. English Ivy

2. Golden Pothos

3.  Peace Lily

4.  Palms (Bamboo, Dwarf Date, Lady, Areca)

5.  Dracaena (red-edged, cornstalk, janet craig, warneck)

6.  Mother-in-law’s Tongue

7.  Gerbera Daisy

8.  Boston Fern

9.  Corn Plant

10.  Spider Plant

11.  Weeping Fig

12.  Philodendron (heartleaf, selloum, elephant ear)

13.  Chrysanthemum

14.  Chinese Evergreen

15.  Marginata

*** Before purchasing any plants be sure to thoroughly research them, as some may be poisonous if consumed and therefore should not be placed in homes with children and/or pets.

The environmentally friendly restaurant publishes the food’s ingredients along with a chart comparing how much CO2e emissions you would have been created by a more standard option. The idea is quite simple; livestock production causes a lot of greenhouse emissions, not to mention water pollution and land degradation, so by going vegetarian – if only on your lunch break – you can help save the planet a lot of energy!

Otarian’s menu is fairly vast and most of its items would make for the perfect lunch. CitySaheli tried and approved the curried apple and parsnip soup, but Otarian also offers a roasted tomato consommé and a pea and spinach potage. Otarian’s burgers are as big as they are tasty; CitySaheli munched on the Portobello mushroom burger and its healthy, egg-free dressing was a treat! 

For those who prefer a wrap or a simple salad there are a wide variety of healthy options like the avocado, tomato and mozzarella mix, the vegetable couscous, the toasted burrito, the spiced coconut curry, and a spicy potato side dish. The vegetable Biryani, however, consisted mainly of white rice with fewer veggies than we would have liked. For dessert try the delicious choc o mousse, or go for the apple crumble or panna cotta o berry. 

Otarian opened two restaurants in New York City in 2010 and London also houses two branches. The restaurant makes an effort to keep its design environmental friendly; most of the material inside the eatery is recycled and sustainable so you can enjoy a sustainable snack in a green setting!  

154 Bleecker Street, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 614 6834

947 Eighth Ave, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 489 3270

Most essential oils can be added to a cream and applied directly to the skin or put in bath oils and enjoyed while bathing. You can also add a few drops to your laundry liquids, hair treatments, and massage oils. Most health stores carry a wide variety of essential oils and Wholefoods offers a large selection of oils along with a simple user guide.

CitySaheli has hand-picked a few essential oils to get you started:

Basil: Improves concentration.
Bergamot: Helps cleanse oily skin.

Cedarwood: Prevents oily hair.
Chamomile: Eases anxiety and headaches.
Cypress: Enhances relaxation.

Eucalyptus: Eases jet lag.

Frankincense: Helps aged skin.

Geranium: Eases anxiety.
Grapefruit: Boosts confidence.

Jasmine: Stimulates creativity.

Lavender: Alleviates stress and promotes healthy skin.
Lemon: Offers an energizing boost.

Neroli: Helps improve dry skin.

Palmarosa: Uplifts the spirit.
Peppermint: Revitalizes the spirit.

Ravensara: Cleanses the body.

Sandalwood: Prevents dry hair.
Spikenard: Calms nerves.

Vitamin D is a steroid with hormone-like activity and is also one of the four main fat-soluble vitamins. It regulates the functions of over 200 genes and is essential for growth and development of the body. 

Vitamin D is especially important for pregnant women.  According to Science Daily, seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D. Though supplementation poses as a solution, prenatal vitamins do not provide enough vitamin D, and at times higher doses are needed to raise levels.

Vitamin D deficiency amongst newborns and infants has especially been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma, neurodevelopment disorders, and weaker bone structure. For adults, deficient levels have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and certain types of cancer.

CitySaheli asked Health Guru, Anita Mirchandani, how to ensure our Sahelis get enough Vitamin D.  Here is what she shared with CitySaheli: 

• Be cognizant about your annual physical and blood work
• As little as ten minutes daily of sun exposure could help achieve your recommended daily allowance (RDA)
• Dietary sources include fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or sardines, eggs with yolk, mushrooms, vitamin D fortified milk, orange juice fortified with vitamin D, 6 oz yogurt fortified with vitamin D, 1 ounce Swiss cheese * always check labels for exact daily value amounts
• Try a multivitamin (includes vitamin D) especially if you are trying to conceive, are pregnant, live in colder climates (up north especially), or work indoors most of the day
• Recommended amount of Vitamin D includes 5 micrograms (200 IU) for all individuals under the age of 50 including pregnant and lactating women

Wearing a tinted moisturizer gives you  great coverage along with a  light airy feel.   Skin looks fresh and clean with the right amount of natural glow coming through. Many are oil-free and most of them now contain some amount of SPF.  These moisturizers can even out your skin tone and often contain nutrients and anti-oxidants that help repair your skin. Some tinted moisturizers  push up the glow factor, if you are looking to achieve a “dewy” look.   It’s great to use tinted moisturizers when you are outdoors or on the beach because they’re easy to apply and make your skin feel cooler.    

CitySaheli tried and tested many of the tinted moisturizers available in the market.  This is what we found worked especially well with South Asian skin tones:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – InStyle magazine “Best of Beauty” awarded this as the best tinted moisturizer in April 2009.  Packed with SPF 20 this lightweight moisturizer has a hint of color that works well as a foundation substitute. With ten shades to choose from, you are bound to find the color that works best with your skin. 

Laura Mercier Illuminating Moisturizer—If you are looking for that “dewy” look, this is a great tinted moisturizer to invest in.  It works best blending with other moisturizers.  This is one moisturizer that is guaranteed to make you glow!

Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer – Bobbi Brown often has many colors that work well with South Asian skin tones.  This also holds true for its moisturizer.  It has a clean look and great sheer coverage. 

Dermalogica Tinted Moisturizer—With SPF 15 and oil free, this compact -packaged  moisturizer is smooth and provides great coverage.  It comes in 3 colors, so depending on your skin tone, you may need to blend two different colors to make the right color combination.  It works especially well with sensitive skin. 

If you have recipes that you would like to share with your sahelis, please send them to recipes@citysaheli.com .  CitySaheli will post them this summer to make sure all our sahelis are totally prepared for barbecue season. 

Paneer Kebabs (For the Indian Veggie Lover).   CitySaheli loves these since it is easy to prep and you can use colorful veggies to make the entrée appealing to the eyes and the mouth. 

Spicy Chicken or Turkey Burgers.  There are many of us who opt out of Red meat.  The combination of spices makes this burger a must for this barbecue season!  Garnish with Imli chutney and this will make splashes at your next party.  

Mexican-style corn. Craving Café Habana corn?  Dubbed as probably one of the best corn on the cobs out there, here is a recipe that comes close to the original. To give it that South Asian touch, use red mirch to spice the corn as well.

Grilled Sweet Potato Salad.  Are you vegan and want a potato salad that has punch and no mayo?  This recipe from epicurious is a saheli favorite.   Add more cumin if you like the smoky taste. 

Check out Rivera’s tips for your bridal beauty countdown and find out which treatments, diet and more is right for you. 

1. How early do you think a bride should start her skin care regimen?
 Ideally, a bride should begin three to four months before the big day, but it’s never too late to start. If you have serious skin conditions you want to improve such as hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone, dark spots) or acne, you should start as soon as at least 6 months ahead of time.

As a professional in the wedding industry,  I’ve seen brides try to do too much too soon before the wedding and not enough in the two to three weeks prior.  Your last facial should be about two weeks before the big day. If you do too much right before the wedding, the end result can include a litany of problems which can increase stress and lead to more skin issues erupting (no pun intended).  Allow your skin to heal before your wedding day.   Planning ahead is the best advice I can give, and remember that taking care of your skin should be part of your daily routine!

2. What can brides do to ensure a glow for their wedding day?

Rest,  rest, and more rest,  and water, are essentials in any brides tool kit if she wants make sure she is glowing.  As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to have a consistent routine with your skin, which includes a daily beauty regimen.  These are the essential steps to beautiful skin:

1. Cleanse

2. Exfoliate

3. Moisturize

4. Protect with SPF  (preferably those that contain Zinc and titanium dioxide).

It’s also important that brides have the appropriate products for their specific skin needs. Pairing that with consistency will produce amazing results. Consult with a skin professional and get a customized skin evaluation.  A professional will guide you to set goals for your desired results for the allotted time frame.  

3. What foods do you recommend to help plump the skin and make it look vibrant?  Many South Asians are vegetarian, what foods would help their skin?

Foods high in antioxidants:  Deep green dark vegetables (spinach and kale) and fruits high in antioxidants including  blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and plums . Antioxidants protect your skin cells from free radical damage. Free radicals can be formed from sun exposure and can damage the membrane of skin cells, resulting in premature aging and wrinkles.  Other foods that are high in antioxidants include artichokes, beans (black, red, and pinto beans), prunes, and pecans.

Vitamin A is another vital component in your diet for skin health and beauty.  Eat low fat yogurt to help skin growth. 

Salmon (for the non vegetarian) and  walnuts, canola oil, flax seed and olive oil. These seemingly unrelated foods all deliver essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6 which help plump the skin.

Whole grains provide vitamins minerals that are especially great for the skin as well in addition to fiber which cleanses the system. Keep away from too much fat, sugar salt.

4. Many brides turn to peels or microdermabrasion to make sure they are bright and dewy for the big day.  Can you describe the differences between the two and what they are used for?

Here is the breakdown as I see it.

Microdermabrasion consists of a jet of micro crystals which are propelled through a small pencil like hollow across the skin surface. It removes damaged and dead cells with vacuum pressure. The results are great and very effective for reducing scars, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. It stimulates collagen production and cell turnover and the often results in smoother, healthier and younger looking skin.

Chemial peels have a wide spectrum of skin conditions they can treat.  They are applied directly to the skin and change the composition of the skin. Peels deliver a very controlled type of superficial tissue destruction removing the outer layer of the skin. The skin then repairs itself allowing new skin to emerge.  There are various levels of peels: superficial, mid depth and deep.   These peels in the right professional hands can deliver amazing improvements to the condition of the skin.   It takes approximate 7 to 10 days for the skin to go through the peeling and healing process (which depends on the intensity of the peel). Smoother more healthier skin is the result.   Your skin consultant will know the method of treatments that will best suit the condition you would like to treat. 

5. How many times should a bride be exfoliating her skin?

It depends on how sensitive your skin is but approximately once or twice a week is appropriate.   Be careful not to over exfoliate, since it can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs to protect the skin.

But there is a solution – and it doesn’t include moving to the countryside, taking the same old antibiotics, or using spray cans filled with chemicals; Jala neti, or nasal irrigation, has been part of Ayurvedic medicine for over 5,000 years and continues to be the treatment of choice for sufferers of stuffed sinuses, colds, allergies, and bags under the eyes in India today.

But there’s no need to pay expensive fees at a hospital or specialist spa in NYC; you can flush your worries away with the help of a neti pot – a mix between Aladdin’s magic lamp and a gravy boat. The neti pot allows you to cleanse your sinuses, treat allergies, colds, and flues, as well as get rid of darkness under your eyes. Other reported benefits include a better sense of smell or taste, sharper vision, and a reduction in snoring. It’s also a good alternative method of detoxifying your body.

You might have seen TV reality star Jessica Simpson try the neti pot while in Mumbai to shoot her series “The Price of Beauty.” As the starlet learned the hard way, the idea of the neti pot is to bathe the sinus cavities in warm salt water. Tilting your head to one side, you insert the spout of the pot in the upper nostril and empty the water. The water will then come out through your lower nostril so make sure you are leaning over a sink or bucket.  Check it out at the 9:12 mark in the episode below.

Look gross? Maybe, but the neti pot treatment will leave you fresh and healthy! Neti pots come in several different castings – clay, ceramic, plastic, glass, and stainless steel – and can be found at several drugstores in New York and at Houston Street’s Wholefoods’ (upper floor) for $14.99 and up, as well as at East West Living for $17.95.

Wholefoods Market
95 East Houston Street
New York, NY
(212) 420 1320

East West Living
78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street
New York, NY
(212) 243 5994

But over the past years, deodorants containing chemicals like aluminum and parabens have increasingly been singled out as harmful to women for having links to the development of breast cancer. 

Basically, these chemicals can be absorbed by the skin and stored in the body before starting to affect the hormonal system by imitating estrogen that causes cell growth, which can potentially lead to cancer.

It is not always easy to know what is right and what is wrong in the organic versus conventional cosmetics jungle as studies are often contradictory and researchers sometimes at odds.

The advantage of natural or organic deodorants is that they don’t include harsh chemicals that can cause the development of breast cancer. But the difficulty lies in finding a natural deodorant that actually works! Most of them are so natural that they don’t absorb sweat or eliminate odors effectively.

So for those who are curious to try an alternative antiperspirant that won’t leave you disappointed, CitySaheli has tried different natural options available in New York City stores and here’s what we found:

While natural antiperspirants like Nature’s Gate’s Organic Fruit Blend, Crystal Body Deodorant Stick and Tom’s Herbal Deodorant contain no aluminum and no parabens – and work perfectly well as fresheners during the day or a late night out – we found they don’t last a full 12 hours. 

However, the following natural deodorants contain no harsh chemicals and we found are long lasting!

Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant

Weleda’s Wild Rose non-aerosol spray deodorant does not only smell lovely, it is easy to apply, it dries very fast and it lasts the whole day! With this convenient bottle, no need to bring a deodorant to work and worry about sweat stains after a long day of meetings. The pleasant spray contains rose leaf extract which is known for its astringent qualities and cleansing properties. It promises to neutralize odors all the while freshening your armpits, making them smell like roses! You can find Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant at Wholefoods or online for approximately $16. 

Lush T’eo Deodorant  

Lush’s T’eo Deodorant contains no aluminum, no parabens, no preservatives and no propellants. It does contain sodium bicarbonate and anti-microbial essential oils that absorb sweat and keeps you fresh throughout the day. This dry deodorant bar has the disadvantage of emitting a powder when you apply it, which easily spreads to the floor and sometimes to your clothes, but it’s well worth the hassle because it only costs about $8 and it lasts all day! The tea tree, lemon and juniperberry take care of the odors and the baking soda deals with the sweat.  Make sure to keep the deodorant bar in a dry place and not in your bathroom, as it becomes moist and thus useless when in contact with condensed water or shower steam.