'Fit' for a foodie

Want a salad artistically put together by a Michelin starred chef? And want it delivered right to your work desk? Now you can with Bandra-based home delivery service 8, which has launched a fitness menu designed by Michelin starred Chef Alec Howard (of Calcot Manor, England).

Started six months ago as a joint venture between global food experts Mark Farrer-Brown and David Hill and Mumbai's Zeenal Jhobalia, 8 is essentially a kitchen space that sends out meals on order. It's a tad different from a tiffin service as it has no fixed menu and each order is tailor-made to suit the diner's need. The team recently tied up with the UK-based Howard to come up with a menu peppered with healthy delights.

Says Jhobalia about her concept kitchen, "8 is designed after London's salad and sandwich joint Pret A Manger. Just like them, the service focuses on food that stays away from chemicals, additives and preservatives and that's what sets it apart from various fast-food and Chinese takeout joints popular among working professionals."

From the new menu, the Slow Burner Salad caught our fancy first. The dish is a healthy whole grain salad that uses barley pearls as a base, tossed with various kinds of dals and vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, peas and avocados and doused with a light sesame sauce. It works as a healthy lunch option since it is an ideal mixture of vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals and proteins. Considering whole grains release energy slowly, the salad keeps you satiated for longer and doesn't add empty calories.

The Super Food Sandwich is an interesting dish too. With every fitness enthusiast the world over talking about 'super foods', this dish comes with a healthy filling of ingredients such as sprouts, beetroot, hummus and avocado. These ingredients are power-packed with nutrition and fill you up even when eaten in small portions.

The kitchen doesn't bake its own bread and orders from The Baker's Dozen, a Mumbai-based bakery that specialises in artisanal loaves. The breads, used as a base for various sandwiches and toasts, don't just claim to be whole-grained, they actually are and reveal actual grains and seeds on biting.

Apart from this, the fitness menu has light broths and stews. Like the clear Asian soup and lamb and sunshine stew that are ideal for weight-watchers. Each liquid is ultra airy and gently flavoured. They feel easy on the stomach and are the perfect antidote for colds and flus.

While 8 doesn't have any healthy dessert options, its beverages are an offbeat take on health drinks. We like the ice teas flavoured with ingredients such as fresh muskmelon, spinach leaves and lemon grass. Though these don't taste all that great, the fact that they have some fresh fruit or vegetable extract in them make them worth a try.
While the menu isn't outright gourmet as you would expect from a Michelin starred chef, it's wholesome and uses good quality ingredients. It's a must-try for working professionals who want to give greasy takeaways a miss.