Eating out can cause a lot of anxiety to fitness enthusiasts who can’t always track the nutrition value in their meal. A new food concept in Dubai that has been developed by a nutritionist takes the guesswork out of healthy eating with its focus on wholesome dishes using unprocessed ingredients.
After receiving positive feedback on her home cooked meals on Instagram, Dubai-based dietitian Hala Barghout decided to further her passion in the kitchen by setting up Colour My Plate, this year. Colour My Plate makes everything from protein-packed snacks as a post-workout option to elaborate lunch and dinner packs that are available to go at the Capital Studio, Gold Box Roastery and Flywheel Sports in Dubai.
Barghout tells us why good health is all about keeping it colourful on the plate.
How did the concept for Colour My Plate come about?
I’ve always believed that the more colour on your plate, the more nutritious your meal is. I wanted to educate people on how to create a balanced meal and show them that healthy food can be tasty too.
What does Colour My Plate offer?
We offer freshly made packaged, healthy, unprocessed, clean, wholesome breakfast, wraps, salads, bowls, soups, treats and dips. Our menu changes daily, as well. We do not focus on a specific diet preference but cater to people with all preferences and needs.
How do you come up with the recipes?
I brainstorm and think of what ingredients would go well together, keeping in mind to optimise the nutrition in that meal. I also get a lot of inspiration from some of my favourite health and food bloggers.
Can you talk about the nutritional value in these meals?
We normally pack our meals with veggies, carbs, healthy fats in moderation and lean protein. We only use unprocessed ingredients, and everything is homemade in our kitchen. We want people to love their food, feel light and full of energy, without worrying about gut inflammation. We are currently working on the nutritional facts for all our menu items, as well.
Do you do deliver?
We will be starting delivery very soon.
What does the future of Colour My Plate look like?
Eventually I want to expand and open a healthy restaurant, and do meal plans for those who do not have the time or the skills to cook healthy, but want healthy meals delivered to their homes and offices.
To find out what’s on their menu, visit www.colourmyplate.ae. Follow Colour My Plate on Instagram
aahmed@thenational.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
