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ShareMumbai: Quite often, we ask ourselves whether eating healthy is costlier than than eating regular food? Experts don't seem to think so, not if you know how to pick your foods, they reveal. Says nutritionist Naini Setalvad, "If you eat healthy food over a period of time such as rice with a low glycemic index or nuts or organic bajra atta which are available in the market you tend to feel fuller for a longer period of time and so end up buying less food, which makes it less expensive on the wallet over time."
Says Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, food consultant at Nature's Basket store which sells a huge variety of low fat options in food, "If you plan properly, eating healthy needn't be more expensive. The normal Indian meal is well balanced with its chapatti, pulses, vegetables and yoghurt features. Opting for local vegetables and local whole grain is an immensely healthy option -- with anything from spinach to fresh beans. Choosing to forgo the tadka on dal, going in for red rice or opting to avoid fried food are health conscious
adjustments."
Of course there are numerous food shops in the city that sell choice expensive health conscious options. Says nutritionist Deanne Pandey who makes sure that her family eats healthy by purchasing from such sanitised delis as Sante and Table of Contents in Bandra."While some options like brown or multi-grained bread, skimmed milk and broccoli and bell peppers are expensive, it is also about how the food is cooked -- grilling, steaming and baking makes food much lighter." Pandey ensures that her cook undertakes these procedures so that they end up feeling light and physically fit.
For Milanda Jagtiani, co-owner of Santes deli which sells exotic low-fat and gourmet options, "If you're going in for meats, try and eat white meats like chicken and turkey, which are naturally healthier than red meats and are on par price-wise. There are also low fat hams and low fat cheeses, especially cheddar available in the marketplace to serve non-vegetarians who are health conscious. Fruits and low fat yoghurts are filling, inexpensive and also make for great health foods."
Actor Yuvika Chowdhary watches her weight by eating home-cooked food. "I stick to the basics -- salad, dal, curd and vegetables and I prefer to have it non-oily. The secret of my diet is that I drink lots of water and eat spicy food, just once in a while."
