JOIN USEat, sleep, snack, repeat’ is a cycle many of us follow today. Given the lifestyle we lead, we’ve gone from three meals a day to almost none. With snacking being a popular part of our routine, many of us have forgotten when and what to eat.
However, a few have changed the definition of snacks from chips and fried foods to more healthful nibbles, fresh vegetables, fruits and more. Vinay Nagaraju, an IT professional, loves his evening snack. He says, “Depending on my mood, I grab a fruit bowl or something spicy and tangy. Though I love food, I try to consume healthy stuff and exercise regularly.”
He also makes sure to check the fat and oil content in his food. “With a hectic schedule, it’s often difficult to keep a tab on these things. That’s also why many of us prefer to snack in between to keep ourselves energised,” he adds.
Madhav Krishna, an entrepreneur, says no to fried food and sugar in his tea and coffee. “It has been a practice in my family for years now. I enjoy a healthy breakfast and snacks like roast almonds, cashew nuts and sprouts as part of my meal.”
Soham Shoney, a food photographer, says, “Though I have a lot of friends who make sure that their snacks are healthy, I don’t pay too much attention to it. I like a puff, cutlet, ‘chaat’, momos or a chutney sandwich with my daily cup of tea. This habit started during school as we would snack before we went for physical training classes. Even the school would provide us a toast or an omelette!”
With demands for snacks growing more than that for actual meals, restaurateurs are also constantly innovating to keep their menu interesting. There are many people who prefer to go to an eatery, grab a quick snack and go about their business for the rest of their day. Of this, corporate executive chef at ‘Watson’s’, Ashley D’Souza says, “There’s a changing trend in the market, with people looking for quick snacks rather than a sit-down meal. We see a lot of customers coming in and rushing out soon enough. So we have to create something that’s snack-like yet make sure it’s close to a full meal.”
He shares an example of how they have changed the ‘Classic steak with mushroom sauce’ to ‘Mushroom beef skewers’ or ‘Stir-fry beef’. The chef adds, “As we are losing out on customers who prefer a full meal over snacks, this is our attempt to keep them satisfied with the short eats. But it’s definitely not a healthy way of living or reducing weight.”
Corporate nutritionist Parvathy N Menon says, “Snacks are a very important part of our lives so long as we have some healthy alternatives. Even if you want to consume biscuits, opt for wheat or multigrain ones. Eating a bowl of sprouts, salad or even a sandwich without mayonnaise is a good option. Many a time, the calories you consume help in digestion.”
She further explains, “As not many make time to have breakfast, indulging in random snacks you find seems easier. You later overeat and keep no room for meals. As for professionals who work odd hours, it’s best that they eat something after they finish their shift. One can
practise the healthy way of snacking by carrying a bit of almonds, other nuts or easily accessible snacks.” Keep in mind ‘you don’t have to eat less, you just have to eat right.’