Professional Food photographer From Mumbai, Pawang Mangrani knew how to eat healthy, but during the stressful months of the first blockade he stopped taking care of himself. Processed foods, desserts, alcohol and sodas entered his diet, far beyond the pandemic. 36-year-old Mangrani was able to see changes in his body and stamina. He had difficulty walking, climbing stairs, and playing cricket. “I didn’t want to go out and buy new clothes. On February 1, 2022, I decided to go. Discipline “I myself,” he says.
He joined the gym and started eating fresh whole home-cooked food. He began looking for an alternative to the cola he liked. His friend introduced him to a fermented tea called kelp tea. Little known in India, kelp tea has a history of 2,000 years and is rich in probiotic bacteria. AntioxidantIt is also an acquired taste. Manglani tried different brands until he found his favorite taste, made by Pune brewery Umami Brew, which uses local fruits, herbs and spices to customize kombucha to the taste of India. rice field.
Buy now | Our best subscription plan is now at a special price
Manglani currently has a separate shelf in the fridge to hold a three-month supply Kelp tea A bottle that he or his friends brought from Pune to his Andeli’s house. When you want to drink, Mangrani opens the bottle, puts kombucha in a whiskey glass with plenty of ice, enjoys the taste while drinking slowly, and feels relieved that it is good for your health. “I recommended it to many people and helped them get off the sugar,” says Manglani. I don’t overdo kombucha, and I do it twice a week.
At Mysuru, 18-year-old Arshiya Ruman MZ told other children not to eat food from the outside unless they were confident in their hygiene.When it comes to her comfort food, ice cream, Arshhiya No dairy products A brand called Just Gelato that uses natural ingredients such as seasonal fruits. She has no other ice cream when she goes out with her friends. “The more you eat naturally, the better your health. I didn’t know that the virus that kills or makes people sick comes to us. So that people can see us and choose responsibly. , We have to choose what we eat wisely, “she says.
In a hurry due to the pandemic, a dietary movement is underway in the country. People care more about the food they have in their bodies. Conscious eaters, who were out of the social group because they checked ingredients, nutritional value, and hygiene before meals, are now the mainstream role model. Culinary blogs, influencer posts, and everyday conversations are studded with references to balanced diets. Intermittent fasting And energy supplements. “Immune booster” was one of the most searched terms in the pandemic.
In her 2018 book, Ultimate Grandmother Hacks (Rupa), nutritionist Kavita Devgan writes traditional practices such as adding raw onions and peppers at lunch. dinner Eating with the family with the TV switched off has almost disappeared from modern homes. It was during the pandemic that Delhi-based Devgan began to notice changes among clients, especially millennials (an important segment in countries where 66% of the population is under 35). rice field. “They are returning to tradition with trivial things such as carrying around. fruits When we go out because we realize the importance of antioxidants and enzymes in fruits, “said Devgan, who published another book this year, The Immunity Diet (Rupa). “People are now reading more and adapting faster to a healthier lifestyle than they used to focus solely on weight loss,” she adds.
India’s last major change in diet was after the economic liberalization of 1991, when the old staple food was replaced by foods rich in sugar, fat and protein. As a result of the Cola Wars and the fast food boom, restaurant chains have grown rapidly in major cities and in Tier II and III towns.From pizza and burgers to coffee donutAttracted Indians who ate American and European sitcoms and movies, and brought a Western lifestyle to the living room. One of the consequences of globalization is that India has become one of the hubs of the world of lifestyle-related diseases.
In June 2022, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation released data showing that the number of monthly deaths from heart attacks increased six-fold in Mumbai in the first half of 2021 compared to the previous year. According to the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR), India is the second largest adult home in the world. Diabetes One in six people in the population and in the world suffering from this disease is Indian. “In the last 30 years, the number of people with diabetes has increased by 150% in India,” said the ICMR statement.
“We started to realize we were on the wrong path and had to change our habits, but it was slow because it was difficult to adapt to a healthy process when we were tempted. is Junk Food.. The pandemic hastened the process as people began wrapping information about improving their lifestyle. What could have taken another 10 years happened in 2 years, “Devgan adds. India was one of the epicenters of COVID-19, a tragedy where everyone lost someone. There was also a lot of misery in those who escaped the disease. Those who recovered were experiencing terrible health fears. The country’s collapsing health system has added to the shock. People have realized that their greatest asset is their health — and to some extent they were under their control.
Packed with symbols of changed thinking salad bowl. Once a humble accompaniment, salads have become a meal in their own right. In many cities, restaurants, independent stores and home cooks are beginning to serve salads and soups. Delhi-based chef Tanubi Agarwal has her upscale catering vegetable garden called Atticus, lush with greens, lettuce, tomatoes, baby potatoes, radishes, carrots and other vegetables during the winter. I’m keeping it. She started picking these to make salads, and for that she offered a subscription plan — Rs 1,500 3 days a week or Rs 2,500 5 times a week. Agarwal, who worked at Atelier Clen, an American Michelin-starred restaurant, was amazed at the huge footprint he received for his salad. “Many of the people we started supplying didn’t have time to cook from home from 9am to 5pm. Ordering salads from a reliable place is convenient for them. I did, “she says.
Atticus products include “kohlrabi, mustard leaves,” Daikon radish From “Tatsoi and Lemon Vine Gret Salad” and warm lentil soup to “Mixed Crisp Green, Baby Carrots, Mushrooms, Celery and Light Hums Salad” and Roast Pepper Soup. The number of customers increased by 20% each year between the first two waves. Agarwal introduced non-vegetarian ingredients in 2021 and plans to expand this range this winter. “There is a myth that if people are eating salads, they are reducing calories. If you eat salads with plenty of mayonnaise, you can’t do that. We are low in fat and truly healthy. We are focused on making healthy salads, “she says.
How to know what is healthy, especially shopping shopping? There are many myths and jargon in the health food market, and harmful products can be branded as good foods. Two words that have recently appeared in the consumer vocabulary: transparency and traceability help eliminate confusion. The former was boosted in December 2021 when the High Court of Delhi mandated food business operators to fully disclose all ingredients, including plant and animal sources, in their packaging. The latter is a feature that allows buyers to find the source of a product.
One of the first companies to introduce traceability features in India was True Elements. It produces healthy breakfasts and snacks such as flavored pumpkin seeds, rolled oats, goan cashews, and protein-rich nuts. Berry.. Enter the product name using the batch code on the company’s website to see the product journey from the farm where the ingredients were procured, along with a detailed quality report. “As the pandemic hit us, customers became more sensitive to what they consume and were more aware of its impact on themselves and the environment. The market is now health-conscious and sustainable food. We are particularly focused on clean label products and ingredients, “said Puru Gupta, who co-founded True Elements with Shreejith Moolayil in 2015. TrueElements are found in many cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. And Nagpur.
Devgan advises that home cooking should make up 80% of the diet. However, the industry has found a way to package health foods for easier access. According to Prasoon Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Delhi-based Sattviko, the product contains antioxidant macana snacks, and the health food market is growing at 20%, 30 billion over five years. It is expected to reach the dollar. “More people are looking for a convenient and guilty dining experience Unhealthy food Or compromise the taste, “he says.
In December 2021, UK-based market research firms Euromonitor International and PepsiCo India announced the Impact of COVID-19 About the nutritional choices of Indian consumers in urban areas in 2021. ” Almost 90% of urban consumers say they will be willing to pay more for healthy food alternatives. The rapid response of the food industry shows that the health food movement is set to grow stronger. So far, unhealthy potato wafers and sweets dominate the shelves, but snacks and sweets labeled “vegan,” “organic,” “gluten-free,” and “free of pesticides and artificial ingredients.” , Sharing space with savory. There is growing interest in A2 milk, dairy products and organic foods.
It’s a better landscape for health-conscious mothers like Mumbai-based Piadesai. She has always had healthy exercise and diet, but she became more aware when she had a child about 10 years ago. At the time, there were few healthy eating options in India, so Desai asked her friends traveling abroad to bring back baby food and treats for her children. “My life has become easier as the market opens and new snacks come in,” she says. A communications expert cooks every day, but she solved her daughter Tiffin’s problem by buying a bunch of Snack-A-Doodle Strawberry Upple Bars. “I like the lack of processed sugar. It’s a little sweet from apples and kids love it,” she says.
Snack-A-Doodle was launched in April 2021 by two Mumbai mothers, Radhieka Pandeya and Simer Dhall, in which the need for nutritious snacks persisted through online classes and blockade life. “The pandemic has revolutionized health-conscious brands. We’ve noticed a monthly repeater rate of 30%. We’re proud to be honest about the ingredients in our products.” Dhall says.
Large companies are looking at the health food market. One of them is Mariko, a manufacturer of safora cooking oil. Consumer goods giant announced in May 2022 that it had acquired a 54% stake in True Elements. “True Elements has built the first phase of growth, primarily with a portfolio of innovative clean label products and high consumer confidence. The focus of the next phase is to further build brand fairness and new households. Accelerating entry into True Elements is a conscious step towards accelerating the expansion of the Foods portfolio. The next ambitious Foods sales of 850-1,000 chlores by 2012. We aim to reach a milestone, “said Sanjay Mishra, COO and CEO of the Indian business. , New business, Mariko Co., Ltd.
Lifestyle changes begin as a challenging journey with disabilities such as peer pressure and withdrawal symptoms. However, research shows that quite a few people exercise, eat well, and promise a healthy life. The broader rules of eating well have not changed over the centuries. “No matter what your habit, you have to be patient. Take your time. You’ll see changes,” says Devgan.
..
