Street food complimenting healthy times

Street Food Complimenting Healthy Times

An unbelievably true theory about our habits is we generally do what we are asked not to. We talk about every aspect of the food we eat, and Street food is the most talked about and considered among all. It doesn’t only take care of our immediate cravings also. It’s cheap and readily available without any effort. They say street food has many disadvantages over its few little delicacies. We have heard critics criticizing how it’s a slow poison, but it’s controversial as to how it is that bad that they call it a poison.

We depend on food based on our culture, availability, and affordability. In America, people are likelier to be affected by heart disease than Asians. It’s because most of what they consume as street or fast food is deep-fried, containing cholesterol. It leads to heart attacks.

Similarly, In India, we eat a moderate amount of fried food such as Pav bhaji, Burger, fries, momos, and many more. Its low-quality oil makes us vulnerable to various heart problems. We not only consume fried, but the water used in the most famous Gol Gappas is usually contaminated, leading to several diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis A and Polio. It also causes tension and irritability in the stomach and chest by acid reflux, which we call acidity. But these disadvantages tell us exactly how we can manage to skip or minimize a few things and can still enjoy street food.

History of Street Food:

This consumption of street food standing tall and being an essential part of our daily life is not a concept that we have adopted today. The history of street food isn’t as simple and easy as quickly we get it today. Instead, it’s on a whole new level. The face of street food has changed over the years. Back then, street food was introduced in countries like China, Rome, and many more. Then, it was for the sole to feed the poor or those who couldn’t afford expensive equipment to grill, fry, or cook daily. From grilled fish to rice, it started with nearly all kinds of food that can be afforded but now, it’s more for taste than a necessity.

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When we think of quitting street food, we picture ourselves compromising all the tasty and easy food. But, on the contrary, what if we don’t stop but minimize the intake and still satisfy our cravings? Then, we have the perfect solution. Creating a balance and a little knowledge is all we need.

Starting with the argument, all street food is not bad for health, but some are. The ingredients are one side of the story. How we consume it, balance the diet, and the timings also play an essential role.

One’s urge to eat street food can be satisfied without sabotaging one’s diet. The right way to eat it is the topic we should be discussing.

Street Food, Less Unhealthy and More Filling and Tasty:

Since fat is an integral part of our diet, the more we need to stay away from bad fats, the more we need to consume good fats. But, of course, we can do both with street food too. Here, I’m mentioning a few options that can satisfy our cravings. It won’t just fill us in; most of all, it is healthy enough to be considered.

Dosa
Idli
Sandwiches
Chaat
Boiled and Roasted Corn
Poha
Boiled chickpeas
Vegetable and Fruit Juice
Moong Dal Laddoo

And we can come up with many things, mostly avoiding oil and a lot of spices and trying to eat from a place as hygienic as possible.

Ingredients for a Balanced Diet:

While looking for alternatives to street food, we must create a balance by eating the best at home and at the right time. Street food can complement your diet if you know how to make the right balance.

Water:

ALWAYS KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED! The fluid intake for a day should be a minimum of 3 liters. If we do our best at this one parameter of healthy living, we’ll be fit, and we can overcome the problems we eat by consuming junk food. For example, one can control acid reflux majorly with an adequate amount of water intake. It also helps your skin glow. Water has no disadvantages to it, but it’s our best friend.

Nuts!

Just a minimal amount of 100 gm of nuts consists of around 600 calories. Nuts are gems for securing us from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Nutrients like bioactive compounds, magnesium, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants, and vitamin E helps in controlling it. The best part is we can carry nuts anywhere with us and snack on them when feeling hungry.

Grains and Cereals:

The right amount of grain consumption helps us stay free from coronary heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and diverticular disease. Consumption frees us from diseases because grains have proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and an extensive range of vitamins.

Pulses:

Simple and usually lacking many spices coupled with a rich protein diet we need daily. They contain good fats and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases by reducing blood pressure and lowering harmful cholesterol levels and heart diseases.

Vegetables and Fruits:

A rich vegetables and fruit diet lead to the best body that anyone imagines. It controls blood pressure and reduces the risk of various heart-related problems. It also helps in lowering the risk of digestive and eye problems.

Dairy Products:

We consume a lot of sugar daily. However, dairy products help reduce heart diseases, especially strokes, and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Calory Intake Balanced with Street Food Cravings:

RIGHT AMOUNT OF CALORIES AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH EXERCISE is the mix that can keep a person healthy.

Calories for Women: An average woman needs 2000 calories daily to maintain weight.
Calories for Men: An average man needs 2500 calories daily to maintain weight.
Diet: One should consult his dietitian and get a specific diet plan and follow the proper timings for the best results

Substitute for Unhealthy/Street Food:

We can add or replace a few ingredients or food and make the food healthy and taste good.

Replace white flour noodles with rice noodles
Sweet potatoes in chaat
Potato chips with popcorn or with sweet potato wedges
Vegetable oil with olive or coconut oil.
Table salt with rock salt
Soda with homemade drinks, for instance, tea
Chocolate with dark chocolate

We can adopt many more alternatives to unhealthy foods or ingredients in our daily diet for a better and healthy lifestyle.

When we are out and have no option other than street food, we can opt for the less unhealthy yet tasty ones. Further, adopting a healthy diet plan with adequate exercise can give you a window to cheat on your diet once or twice a month without sabotaging it.

FSSAI Project To Make Street Food Better for Us:

FSSAI is trying to make our street food life as healthy as possible. As mentioned on their website, “Project Clean Street Food is one of the initiatives taken up by FSSAI under a 360-degree approach to Food Safety and Healthy Nutrition. The initiative would involve training and capacity building of the street food vendors and ensure proper regulatory oversight over them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Broad objectives:

To ensure health, hygiene, and safety standard of street food for all consumers.
To ensure social and economic upliftment of street vendor community by helping them improve the quality of offerings and attracting more customers.
To enhance the popularity of Street food by transforming it into a global brand by itself.”

Everyone is trying to deliver us the best and most healthy food possible. So let’s take care of ourselves too.

Have a full of taste yet healthy eating!

Also read: Street Food in India (Click to Read)

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