6 Healthy Indian Snacks You Can Pack For Your Trip

Some travellers carry food for their trip or journey—either as a wholesome meal or snacks to munch on at intervals. While it isn’t advisable to carry multiple boxes of food for your journey, you can always carry snacks that are light on the luggage as well as your waistline. There is a large variety of snacks that you can carry—from chips and biscuits to homemade brownies or health bars. It’s usually always a better idea to go for the healthier option by making healthy snacks for kids and yourself. India is a diverse country when it comes to culture, traditions and cuisine and there are a lot of healthy Indian snacks to choose from for your travels.

If you want to make some healthy snacks Indian ‘style’, there are a lot of sources that you can draw from—your parents, grandparents, and now, even the internet. For a healthy snacks recipe you can always turn to the internet, which also gives you the nutritional value of the ingredients, while also suggesting healthy substitutes for various ingredients or methods of cooking.

# Khichdi

This is simply a one-pot rice and lentil dish and is made in a wide variety of ways in different parts of the country. An iconic Indian dish, it is known as huggi in Karnataka, pongal in Tamil Nadu, and khichdi in many parts of north India. Khichdi is one of the most ancient foods in India and once cooked, can be paired with anything from yogurt to spicy pickle.

Khichdi is known as ‘Bimaro Wala Khana’ (food for the sick in Hindi) as it is easily digestible and nutrition-rich, making it one of the many healthy Indian snacks. It is the perfect balance of carbohydrates and protein. According to Ayurveda, Khichdi is used for detoxifying and cleansing the body. It is the perfect snack as it is easy to make, healthy, filling, easy to pack, and tasty either hot or cold. However, it is best consumed within at least 12 hours of preparation.

# Thepla

This is a Gujarati breakfast flatbread (roti) made primarily of methi (fenugreek), wheat flour, yoghurt, gram flour, ghee and water. Theplas are made in a similar way chapatis are made, where the dough is rolled into a ball and then flattened into a circular shape and fried.

Theplas are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and iron and are known for lowering cholesterol. According to NDTV Food, one of the University of Michigan Health System’s studies states that the steroidal saponins found in fenugreek seeds seem to slow the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Theplas are also said to be able to control diabetes, lower blood sugar levels, and aid digestion.

# Khakhra

The khakhra is a circular crisp roti-like food item from Gujarat that is commonly eaten as a snack. The primary ingredient in these healthy Indian snacks is wheat flour. Others are gram flour, milk, and oil, but you can add various spices to customise it. Much like rotis, khakhras are roasted on a heated pan, although here, pressure is applied till they become crisp.

Khakhras are considered to be healthy snacks in India as they are made of whole wheat. They are rich in carbohydrates and proteins and also contain dietary fibres which help with weight reduction, digestion, and to maintain blood sugar levels. Khakhras are not only easy to pack, but can also be eaten with anything from tea to jam, sabzi (cooked vegetable dish) or plain.

# Bhakarwadi

A disk of dough stuffed with dried coconut, poppy, cumin, and sesame seeds, dried mango and chilli, bhakarwadis are a popular Indian snack that originated from Gujarat, although it is quite popular in Maharashtra too. These bite-sized mini rolls are a perfect mix of crunchy, sweet and spicy, and are best enjoyed with a cup of tea.

The original version of bhakarwadis does not make it into the list of healthy Indian snacks, but there are variations that are low fat and fibre-rich. Baked versions of these are stuffed with flax seeds, grains, pulses, soybeans, methi or dry fruits. They are dry and therefore easy to pack and carry and are available at all farsan (a collective name for multiple varieties of Gujarati and Maharashtrian snacks) shops.

# Lemon Rice

A tangy yellow dish made from basmati rice mixed with other ingredients like peanuts, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and lemon juice— these are the ingredients in the healthy snacks recipe for lemon rice. It originated in south India, and can also be made with leftover rice, making it an easy and convenient breakfast or snack dish. It can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to prepare, depending on whether you are using pre-cooked rice. The dish can also be made gluten-free by skipping the hing (asafoetida).

Lemon rice is very nutritional as it contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, potassium, fibre, vitamin A, C, E, calcium, iron, thiamin, niacin, phosphorus and more. Lemon rice, also known as Chitranna in Kannada, can be eaten with yoghurt or spicy pickle or plain. It also counts as healthy snacks for kids as it can be packed in a tiffin box easily. However, it needs to be consumed within a day of it being made.

# Dalia

Dalia is made of broken wheat, cooked in different ways, according to personal preferences. It is consumed mainly in the Indian sub-continent and features high as a favourite on the list of healthy Indian snacks. You can cook it with spices to make it savoury or sweet by adding coconut and jaggery.

This dish is a super-food and a great source for protein, making it a big hit among fitness buffs. Dalia is rich in fibre, helpful for weight loss, a good source of minerals, helpful in suppressing hunger pangs, low in fat and great for diabetics and children. While it makes for great healthy snacks for evening or even for breakfast and dinner, dalia needs to be consumed within a day of it being made.