Reasons why the 'Indian Thali' is the real deal!

We all love that cheesy pasta and burger with fries. And of course, it is yum. But are these meals actually healthy?

When I say ‘nutrition’ I am sure your mind goes to paleo, keto or some other fancy diet. But have you ever thought about your simple Monday lunch being one of the most nutritious meals?

What is an Indian Thali? It is a round platter with little bowls consisting of various elements ranging from pickle to scrumptious vegetables. Traditionally, the humble everyday Indian Thali has proven to be nutritious. It has the right quantities of protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and fats. Let’s break it down.

• Rice (1 bowl- 136 calories) or Roti (70 calories) {Carbohydrates}

• Dal (Protein)- 1 bowl- 104 calories

• Sabzi (Vitamins and Mineral)- 1 bowl- 150 calories

• Curd- 1 bowl- 50 calories

• Barfi- 2 pieces- 220 calories

It’s no joke that your mom asks you to eat the full dal roti meal. It provides the basic nourishment your body requires on a daily basis.

Now, a thali is not only a balanced meal in terms of nutrition but also tastes and textures. We have various accompaniments which are greatly loved. Pickle, chutney, pappad and curd being some of them. The curd plays the role of a soothing dip offsetting the spice and the pappad/pappadum provides the crispy texture. The combination of spices with a ghee roti makes the meal wholesome. The meal appeals to all our senses of taste which are sweet, salty bitter and spicy.

Another point I am trying to prove here is that healthy food can be flavourful. You do not have to eat bland chicken or kale for that. A traditional homemade thali is the real deal. Next time don’t just gobble your roti and dal for the sake of it. Try all the elements together and think about what I said. All elements of a thali are crucial and taste delicious together too.

You may need to make some changes to your meal sometime according to your personal needs. Reduce carbs if you trying to lose weight (because you don’t need to eat both roti and chawal) or decrease the oil while cooking to make a lighter meal. Skip the sweet, it is one of the elements which has the most amount of fat content. It may seem criminal to skip on that one Gulab Jamun sitting in a small bowl, but it is more important to listen to your body.

Another fun aspect of living in a culturally diverse country is the variety of food. Each state has their own take on an Indian Thali. In the South, rice is eaten along with Rasam and Sambhar (served on banana leaf) and in the East, fish is a necessity. The Gujarati Thali has buttermilk and an array of snacks (farsan). Whereas, the Punjabi’s love their Lassi! Aamras and Puranpoli in the Maharashtrian Thali are to die for. If you ever visit another city make sure you try their thali. It’s an experience which you would love.

Whether you are a fitness freak or someone just trying to eat healthy, going back to your roots and devouring an Indian meal is the answer for you. No need for expensive diets which require ingredients you cannot pronounce. Also don’t forget to try different types of Thalis from different states to break the monotony! Not only are they nutritious but really scrumptious too. You could change it up once in a while with fish curry or paneer ki sabzi. Finally, allow yourself to get lost in the aroma, colours and tastes of a thali. Accept your traditional eating experience with open arms. I am sure you will love it.

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Aditi Dayal