World Food Safety Day 2024: 5 Healthy Indian Food Alternatives For Your Unhealthy Cravings

World Food Safety Day 2024: World Food Safety Day is observed annually on June 7 to highlight the critical role that food safety plays in ensuring the health and well-being of people around the world. This day, initiated by the United Nations General Assembly and co-facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), serves as a platform to raise global food safety awareness, reduce the burden of foodborne diseases, and encourage actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks.

World Food Safety Day 2024 Theme

According to the World Health Organization, food-borne diseases kill approximately 420,000 people each year. Every year on June 7, the entire world commemorates World Food Safety Day to emphasize the importance of upholding food standards. This year's theme is “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected,” which emphasizes the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how minor or severe they may be.

Is Indian Food The Safest?

In today’s fast-paced world, due to unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, junk food has become a staple in our daily routine, posing significant health risks such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. While many cuisines offer raw meat, fried chips, and other junk as their main course dishes, Indian cuisine provides several healthier alternatives to popular junk foods that not only satisfy cravings but also provide nutritional value. 

Indian Cuisine Benefits

Indian food is renowned for its nutritional richness and variety and is frequently regarded as superior to other cuisines due to its balanced use of spices, herbs, vegetables, grains, and proteins. One important factor is the use of spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, and ginger, which not only add flavour but also have significant health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditional Indian cuisine also emphasizes plant-based ingredients, so it is naturally high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are staples in Indian diets, providing essential proteins, particularly to vegetarians. 

Indian Cooking Method

Indian cooking methods, including steaming and simmering, which help to preserve the nutritional value of the ingredients. The inclusion of a diverse range of vegetables, from leafy greens to root vegetables, ensures a balanced intake of essential nutrients and antioxidants. Additionally, whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat, are widely consumed, ensuring a higher intake of complex carbohydrates and fibers than refined grains. 

Indian Food Alternatives For Junk

Indian cuisine provides a variety of healthier alternatives to popular junk foods that not only satisfy cravings but also offer nutritional benefits. Now whenever you crave sweet, savoury, or spicy, try these delicious and nutritious Indian recipes that will not make you regret eating them again and again!

Banta Soda Instead of Cold Drinks

Banta soda, a traditional Indian lemon-based beverage, is a great alternative to sugary cold drinks and sodas. 

Why Banta Soda is Better?

• Banta soda is made with fresh lemon juice, soda water, and a spice blend containing black salt and cumin. This natural composition stands in stark contrast to many commercial sodas, which contain artificial flavors, colors, and high fructose corn syrup.

• While cold drinks are high in refined sugars, which can raise blood sugar levels, Banta soda is typically lower in sugar, making it a healthier option.

• Banta soda contains spices such as cumin and black salt, which aid digestion and can help alleviate bloating and indigestion, making it a refreshing and health-promoting beverage.

Chutney Instead of Dips and Spreads

Chutneys, a staple of Indian cuisine, are available in a variety of flavours and can be made with ingredients such as mint, coriander, tamarind, and tomatoes.

Why Chutney is Better?

• Chutneys are made with fresh herbs, fruits, and spices, providing a boost of nutrients and antioxidants that are often lacking in store-bought dips and spreads, which may contain preservatives and artificial additives.

• Chutneys, with options ranging from spicy to tangy, can cater to a variety of taste preferences while avoiding unhealthy fats and sugars.

• Chutneys contain antimicrobial ingredients such as mint and coriander, which can help with digestion and metabolism.

Pakodas Instead of French Fries

Pakodas, also known as fritters or bhajis, are prepared by dipping vegetables in a seasoned chickpea flour batter and frying them.

Why Pakodas are Better?

• Pakodas can be made with a variety of vegetables, including onions, spinach, and cauliflower, which provide more vitamins, minerals, and fiber than the starchy potatoes found in French fries.

• The batter for pakodas is made with chickpea flour (besan), which is high in protein and fiber, providing a more balanced nutritional profile than the refined flour or cornstarch commonly used in French fries.

Dry Fruit Ladoo Instead of Cheesecake

Dry fruit ladoos are sweet, nutritious balls made from a combination of dry fruits, nuts, and natural sweeteners such as jaggery or honey.

Why Dry Fruit Ladoo is Better?

• Unlike cheesecakes, which are frequently loaded with refined sugar, dry fruit ladoos use natural sweeteners that have a lower glycemic index and provide long-lasting energy without causing sugar spikes.

• Ladoos, which are packed with nuts and dried fruits, are high in healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals, making them a much healthier dessert option than the calorie-dense and sugar-rich cheesecake.

• Cheesecakes frequently contain high levels of saturated fat from cream cheese and butter. In contrast, dry fruit ladoos contain healthy fats from nuts, which are good for your heart.

Bhelpuri Instead of Nachos and Potato Chips

Bhelpuri is a popular Indian street food chaat made with puffed rice, vegetables, tamarind chutney, and a variety of spices.

Why Bhelpuri is Better?

• Unlike nachos and potato chips, which are frequently fried and high in unhealthy fats, bhelpuri uses puffed rice, which is light and low in calories.

• Bhelpuri contains fresh ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, and coriander, which provide essential vitamins and minerals not found in processed nachos and chips.

• Bhelpuri’s combination of puffed rice, vegetables, and chutneys contains a high concentration of dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes a sense of fullness, which can help prevent overeating.