Written By: Kriti Saraswat | Updated : June 17, 2014 4:54 PM IST
Every country has its own share of popular snack items which are consumed by most people on a regular basis. But not everything that is popular is necessarily healthy. The fact is, they are tasty, easily available and cheap so people eat them without giving a thought of how many calories they are consuming and how they are made.
'Most of these snacks are deep-fried, contain refined flour, and are normally cooked in hydrogenated oil at high temperature. This causes free radical damage which leads to increase in cholesterol and the risk of cancer. The caloric content is very high leading to weight gain increasing the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, knee and joint pains. These foods are nutrient robbers, I would label them as legalised illegal food as they are damaging our brains, lowering our IQ , increasing the risks of mental disorders and are slowly, torturously and steadily killing us,' opines well-known nutritionist Naini Setalvad.
Another nutritionist Priya Kathpal adds, 'These snacks are unhealthy for all age groups including kids. They have the negatives of high sugar and salt apart from fats and they have nothing but empty calories to offer.'
Here is our list of 10 unhealthy Indian snacks that you should shun if you want to stay healthy.
Vada pav
A favourite Mumbai delicacy, vada pav is a staple dish which is eaten by one and all for its distinct taste. It is filling and is easy on the pocket, making it a lunch or snack option for several Mumbaikars. Vada pav is deep-fried with a potato filling which is then sandwiched between a bun with some spicy chutney. A single serving of one vada pav equals to 286 calories and the frying further makes it rich in fats. If you still can't resist this dish, you can try making its healthier version at home. Here is the recipe.
Samosa
This is mostly eaten in the evenings along with tea. Deep-fried, coated with white flour and filled with potato and peas, samosas are a sure shot way to gain weight. A single piece contains as much as 245 calories. Their easy availability makes them hard to resist but opt for their baked version and make a vegetable filling to make them healthy.
Jalebi
This is officially certified as one of the unhealthiest snacks in the world. It made to a list of fattening foods created by an American news website. Jalebi is essentially deep-fried dough which is then soaked into sugar syrup. One piece alone can give you123 calories but the truth is, no one just eats one making it even unhealthier. Shun this and opt for a handful of prunes and raisins instead. If you still can't do without your desserts, try these low-cal sweets for a change.
Pani puri
Known by various names such as gol guppa, puchka, etc, pani puri is a street snack. One serving has 6 puris and often many end up having 2 serving at one go. The puris are deep fried and the filling contains mashed potato, sev and other chutneys. Though it is quite yummy, the fact is, it can disrupt your weight loss goals. But if you really must savour street snacks, make it at home in a hygienic and healthy manner. Here's a vegetable sev puri recipe.
Bhujia
Bhujia or sev look like tiny yellow bits and give you the impression that they are very light but the calorie metre has another story to tell. These are little monsters of fat and a single tablespoon of bhujia contains 78 calories. Eat 10 spoonfuls and you have put on 780 calories in a go! So the next time you sprinkle them on your chaat, remember how much it can set you back in terms of your weight loss goals.
Kachori
A north Indian delicacy, kachoris are often made during festivities and considering there are so many festivals, you can imagine the number of kachoris Indians eat in their lifetime. The dish is made of fine flour with a filling of dal, etc within. It is quite fattening and not too easy to digest as well. Here's a healthy twist to your favourite Holi and Navratri dishes.
Nan khatai
Nan khatai may be lovely to eat but it contains everything you shouldn't eat if you want to lose weight ghee, white flour, baking soda, sugar. It is the Indian version of buttered cookies but eggless. One piece packs 60 calories but the ingredients are such that will add more fat to your body than give you any energy or nutrition.
Bhatura
The famous chhloe bhature which make for a filling snack is something you will have to give up if you are in the mood to get healthy. The fact is, bhatura is made out of white flour, is deep fried and often very large in size. Switch to whole wheat bread or regular chapattis instead with the chhole.
Keema patties
Keema is minced meat, usually mutton or beef which is mixed with Indian spices and then made into a patty which is fried till golden-brown. In order to make a healthier version of this dish, you can bake it instead of frying it and substitute red meat with chicken.
Medu vada
The ubiquitous medu vada is one dish which may look healthy at first because it is teamed up with sambar and chutney, but the truth is, the vada is not really what you want to eat. Though it is made of urad dal batter, the dough is deep fried and in the process the vada absorbs a lot of oil. Stick to idlis instead which make for a wholesome, healthy snack. Here's the recipe.
Track calories in Indian food items using Healthifyme calorie counter
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