Know which Indian Breads are best for the waistline.

Indian breads are delicious ethnic breads that can be a part of a healthy diet because they start with such basic ingredients. The simplest of Indian breads are made from whole wheat flour and water and nothing else, than cooked in a cast iron pan or skillet. Some cooks will add a touch of salt for flavoring, but the goal of the bread is to be a neutral compliment to the traditionally spicy Indian main dishes. These simple breads are often called Roti or Chappati.

The use of whole grains rather than processed flour in Indian bread means higher fiber than most bread, and the lack of ingredients such as eggs or milk means the bread is relatively low calories for a carbohydrate. There are several types of Indian bread, however, that use the basic dough for a starting point, and add more ingredients or are cooked in different manners that can add calories.

Parantha is made from the basic dough as Roti, but are flakier, with light layers that are indian bread almost like pastry. This is achieved by brushing oil over the dough, folding it over and rolling it out, then repeating the process several times. When cooked, the bread will puff up between the oiled layers. This is quite delicious and still relatively healthy eating.

Finally, a beloved Indian bread is Poori, which is a deep fried pocket of bread that is often used to scoop up curries and vegetables. Here's where you need to start watching what you eat - the deep fried Indian breads have far more calories than the skillet-cooked varieties.

If you enjoy Indian breads, stick with Roti, Chappati or Parantha for the best whole-grain, high fiber choices - these make great, flavorful alternatives to standard white bread and have far fewer calories.

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