The picky eater is back

We all know someone who watches their calorie intake and guards their diet with their life. As much as a lot of us have gotten accustomed to seeing a bevy of healthy eaters around; millennials and young adults often take the mantra to an all-new level altogether. Clearly, the picky eater is back. But this time around, it’s only the uber-healthy treats that shall make the cut. It is the era, where healthy eating reigns supreme and absolutely no compromises are made in achieving the same. Indian millennials are shifting gears – towards clean eating, and are investing in superfoods, which are pegged as mainstream this year. Be it the tolerable yet unrealistically pricey avocadoes, golden milk, pea milk, Tahini bars or the crunchy-zero-calorie Lotus seeds; ‘healthy eating’ is what takes the cake and on which the moolah is spent, irrespective of the price tag it comes with.

“For me, healthy eating is one investment with super high ROI. I spend close to Rs 5, 000 to 10,000 per month on dry fruits, which include a super rare variety of Brazil nuts. To keep up with the right iron levels, I include spirulina, which is a super plant-based food,” begins entrepreneur Veena Ashiya Chindlur, who believes that this is the right time to be picky when it comes to eating for Indians. “Luckily, we are living at a time, where in addition to the treasure house of herbs like Ashwagandha, there are ample superfoods to pick from, which are hugely popular in the west. I am a girl on the go, so my diet comprises a lighter version of Keto (40 percent fat, 30 percent protein and 30 percent carbohydrates) and I avoid grain for five days a week,” she adds.

Trishala Ashok

Another youngster, Trishala Ashok, who runs a healthy baking venture, believes in deriving nutrition from different sources, but keeping it simple while at it. “I try to eat healthy 80 to 90 percent. I count my macros  (my intake of carbohydrates, protein and fats) and that gives me a fair idea of what to include. Additionally, I include a lot of nuts in my diet, food that’s locally produced in the market such as Sunflower, pumpkin seeds and kefir. I also ensure that I'm on a steady diet of avocados and berries, with most of my pancakes, salads and other meals that are usually prepared with cold pressed olive oil.  Roughly I spend around Rs 10,000 including protein supplements and cold pressed oils. I'm a believer that no matter what, health is wealth. So, spending wisely on food makes me happier about myself.”

Gauging the trend, health, athlete and fitness expert Swetha Dev concludes, “My daily diet is a super green smoothie for breakfast which is a blend of spirulina, moringa, wheatgrass, alfalfa, flax etc and I mix it with coconut milk, chia and isabgol. It’s convenient and quick for a busy morning. My lunch is usually red rice or brown rice or quinoa with loads of vegetables. I vouch for sports greens, which is alkalising, antioxidant and fibre rich blend of plant-based ingredients, ideal to help me kick-start my day.” Swetha further believes that the trend of people being more conscious about their diets is very impressive and needs to be appreciated. “Everyone knows prevention is better than cure. It's always better to have a grocery bill that’s larger than your hospital bills. I think instead of most of these inane challenges that go viral, it should be a superfood challenge that should be viral. Let’s make it sound cool to eat and spend well on living well,” she concludes.