Schenelle Dsouza
While we love the idea of a new health journey, the thought of giving up our favourite foods can seem nightmarish. The midnight cravings, and after-food dessert cravings are all things we worry we’ll miss the most. But why should you give up your favourite food when you can make a healthy swap instead? Restaurants and cafes around the country began the ‘healthy menu’ trend a long time back creating healthy, organic and nutritional meals. And while some of them catered to these with bland and boring offerings, others simply recreated popular favourites with healthy swaps that added to the nutritional profile without compromising on taste and flavour.
On International Yoga Day, here are some of our favourite restaurants in Mumbai and Delhi serving holistic menus that are as delicious as they are healthy.
Aujasya by The Leela, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts launched their new wellness programme — Aujasya by The Leela in May this year. With an aim to redefine holistic well-being, the programme focuses on two elements of well-being — restore (food) and renew (mindfulness). The former was launched last month in collaboration with the renowned nutritionist and food consultant Dr Ankita Jalori. The new curated menus present a healthier alternative to food with higher nutritional value, combining ingredients like lean proteins, low-fat dairy and whole grains. The menu includes dishes like Pearl Millet Pessaratu made with bajra, fermented Sorghum Rava Idli; Spinach and Himalayan Millet Risotto, gluten-free Quinoa Biryani; Ragi Payasam and Millet Pancakes, and many more interesting dishes.
Bombay Baking Company, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
Bombay Baking Company is an exquisite patisserie-deli from JW Marriott. While the deli specialises in an array of fresh homemade breads, sandwiches and pastries, it also boasts a range of healthy, wholesome breakfast delicacies, healthy bowls, beverages and festive treats. Early birds can start their morning delving into delicious acai bowls, granola yoghurt parfaits and omega bowls which are packed with nutrition. Other healthy offerings include BBCo. Signature Club Sandwich, croissant sandwich, lox and bagel, mushroom bruschetta, farmhouse panini and nutrition-packed smoothies like avocado & blueberries, beetroot and banana, date and cinnamon, avocado and moringa, spinach & kale, etc.
Greenr Cafe, Delhi
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A plant-protein-based restaurant, the menu at Greenr is a vegan’s dream. Brimming with deliciously healthy vegan and vegetarian dishes, Greenr, as the name suggests, specialises in a range of healthy colourful salads, burgers, pizzas, pastas and desserts. The good thing about these indulgences is that they are all healthy, nutritional and light. Enjoy quick bites like the yummy cassava root fries and jackfruit slides before delving into wholesome mains such as the mock sausage spaghetti and the perfect ending of dessert with the beetroot fig mousse and a side of the pumpkin spice frappe.
Fabcafe by Fabindia, Delhi
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Switching to healthy meals does not necessarily mean giving up your favourite foods, and Fabcafe by Fabindia proves just that. The chic, all-day dining restaurant offers some of the most wholesome dishes that transform street favourites like momos and papdi chaat with a healthy, nutrition profile. Some of their popular favourites include their tri-grain papdi chaat made with kuttu (buckwheat), jowar (sorghum) and bajra flours (pearl millet), gol gappe served with fresh pineapple and pomegranate water, millet flour roti wraps, in addition to some of India’s best like palak paneer, biryani, dal makhani and galouti kebabs. Their dessert menu is equally appetizing with vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options like the mango cashew tart, fruit payasam made with coconut milk, eggless buttermilk pancakes and grain-free cakes. The good thing about these desserts is that they use natural sweeteners like palm jaggery and palm sugar, coconut sugar and brown sugar.
Soul Pantry, Andaz Delhi
Soul Pantry in Andaz Delhi is one of the best places for delicious and healthy food, even with indulgences like burgers and pizzas. Health fanatics often perceive bread as the enemy, giving up on their favourite bites like burgers and pizzas. However, the menu at Soul Pantry combines indigenous grains like finger millet, amaranth and buckwheat in all its bread bases making it healthy and delicious. Aside from pizzas, the menu also includes salads made with fresh organic produce and locally-sourced greens, calling it health in a bowl. The desserts are especially enticing with guilt-free curations like the avocado chocolate cake and the opera gateaux and berry and coconut panna cotta.
The Banyan Tree Cafe, Mumbai
An all-day cafe inside the newly launched IF.BE art space in Mumbai, The Banyan Tree Cafe emphasizes on clean eating and sustainable food experiences. The salads on the menu have been defined as a hug-in-a-bowl. For instance, Good Vibes is made with avocado, orange, radicchio, frisée and rocket leaves with dried cranberries; Back to Balsamic is a Spanish Escalvado-style salad with grilled veggies marinated in balsamic, tossed with caramelized almonds and sautéed kale; and Bacon Me Crazy is where the crispiest bacon meets Granny Smith apples, baby spinach, mixed greens, and walnuts, all doused with Dijon mustard. Aside from salads, the cafe also features healthy drinks like Oh, Honey which blends honeydew melon and pomegranate; D-Tox a mix of spinach, carrot, cucumber, tomato, celery and mint; Green Junkie with baby spinach, kiwi, basil, mango pulp and lemon juice; and All Things Keto with mixed berries, baby spinach and coconut milk.
Yogisattva, Mumbai
Mumbai’s popular plant-based, vegan and gluten-free restaurant, Yogisattva has introduced a new house menu with selective options. From breakfast options to lunch/dinner and quick bites, the new menu offers an array of deliciously healthy options. Breakfast sections include vegan breakfast tacos made from organic amaranth and flaxseed flour with an organic tofu scramble, vegan protein-rich quiche with a base of organic chickpea and rice flour with organic tofu, cherry tomato and mushroom filling. While main course options include Lebanese, Asian and Mexican mezze platters and organic sorghum flour pizzas, ramen bowls and refreshing drinks made with organic fruits and natural coconut sugar.
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