Traditional Food vs Trending Food

In my recent interactions with teens, I am struck by their beliefs for traditional food v/s trending food, packaged food. They often reflect what they have learned from their environment.

Some key points:

— Pickles (Indian traditional pickles) aren’t good for our health, so don’t even try – then what about the pickles we relish in our subway or pickles we relish as an appetizer at a Japanese restaurant?

Fact: Every cuisine which is backed by culture, tradition and roots will have their own pickles for our health and well-being

— Stop eating wheat roti and shift to millet rotis.

Fact: wheat is a very important grain with multiple health benefits.

— Papad (urad, rice or any) needs to be avoided at any cost – while packaged chips sometimes are okay?

Fact: papad is a good source of protein (depending which), fibre and aids digestion

Normally, these traditional ingredients which we skip because of any fear or trending influence actually are the ingredients providing us with a universe of nutrients and bridge the gap between what is missing in our total nutrition requirements. They complete the nutrient profile and make our cells well nourished.

The additional benefits are:

1. It keeps cravings away

2. We are attracted more towards real and natural food

3. It also works as a natural supplement for our body.