Couscous Diet

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

The homeland of this small-grain pasta is Morocco, North Africa. There, couscous is considered a national Moroccan dish. However, it is no less popular in Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and other countries. It is often found in Italian, Israeli and French cuisine.

What exactly is couscous?

It is made from crushed durum wheat semolina. As a rule, rice, millet and barley are also used for its production. As for the production technique, it can be compared to making a paste, only small enough - 1.5-2 millimeters.

We have the real couscous is underused, but rather associated with wheat pasta. As already mentioned, couscous can be made from different types of cereals, but the mixture of semolina and millet is considered traditional. Then a small amount of flour is added to them, shaken in a strainer and round lumps are obtained. As a rule, these lumps turn yellow due to the millet used. Thanks to this composition couscous has many useful properties.

Vitamins and nutrients in couscous

- calcium;

- honey;

- iron;

- potassium and magnesium;

- sodium;

- zinc;

- selenium;

- B vitamins, vitamin PP, E, K.

The content of calories in couscous cannot be called dietary. It is about 340-376 calories per 100 grams. It seems that such a high nutritional value can harm the figure. However, satiety from cereals does not allow you to eat a lot of them: for example, a small portion gives a feeling of satiety for half a day. The diverse composition of couscous allows the body to reap great benefits and meet its nutritional needs.

Can couscous be the basis of a weight loss diet?

It turns out that it has recently become widespread in this capacity, as nutritionists note that couscous perfectly saturates the stomach and enriches the body with many vitamins, minerals and trace elements, but at the same time saturates in small quantities, so it can be safely included even in low-calorie diets. The amount consumed for the day is estimated according to the set goal for the consumed daily calories.

The predominant part of the couscous porridge is protein and complex carbohydrates. The dish is enriched with pantothenic acid, which is known to be extremely useful for reduced vitality, sleep disorders, fatigue and frequent depression. Also, this food contains a lot of copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium and dietary fiber, which are responsible for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the correction of water-salt metabolism and brain activity.

Simply put, couscous is ideal for people with weak immune systems and low hemoglobin levels. Additional, couscous is a perfect food for weight lossbecause it is nutritious.

With proper preparation and moderate use of couscous dishes you can achieve good results in losing weight and improve the shape of your body. In addition to many useful properties, couscous has an amazing taste that is radically different from the semolina from which it is made. It has a very delicate crumbly texture and a beautiful golden hue.

The couscous usually steamed. It can be served both hot and cold. It is a great addition to meat dishes, fish, seafood, nuts and vegetables.

How to prepare dietary couscous?

To prepare the diet dish, you will need a steamer with at least 2 containers. At the bottom, cook vegetables with meat (chicken, beef or rabbit in combination with onions, carrots and pumpkin is ideal). In the upper container, couscous is prepared directly, which will swell from the money. Couscous has the unique property of absorbing other flavors, so such a dish will certainly become very refined and you will discover new combinations of flavors and odors. It is good to rinse the couscous beforehand so that it does not turn into a porridge during cooking.

Among all the recipes the perfect way to serving couscous is in a bowl. Put the couscous as a base, place the meat or chicken in the center and the vegetables around it. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. The dish has an amazing taste, amazing aroma and most importantly, it differs in dietary properties, because it is prepared together with steamed meat and vegetables, which means that the food will not have excess fat.

Since this dish is high in complex carbohydrates that will make you feel full, you can to include couscous in the lunch menuto get full for the whole day. Then a light dinner of fresh salad or low-fat fermented dairy product will suffice.

During couscous diet can be combined with the following foods:

- more "lean" ham;

- stewed vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, cauliflower, etc.);

- fresh vegetables (cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes, radishes, onions, garlic);

- lean meat and poultry (chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit);

- seafood (shrimp, mussels, squid, oysters).

Answering the question of whether it is possible to eat couscous in the diet, it is worth noting that this product will perfectly complement a variety of foods, but it is still recommended to give preference to meat and vegetables. Portion of couscous in one of the meals it will provide you with the necessary satiety, carbohydrates and energy and will allow you not to overdo it with protein foods, which can damage your kidneys.

The couscous not recommended for people with allergies to its ingredients and for diabetics due to its high carbohydrate content. And with excessive consumption, not only will there be no dietary effect, but it can also lead to weight gain.

Perfect recipes for diet with couscous are:

- Taboo with couscous;

- Mediterranean couscous;

- Stuffed tomatoes with couscous.