10 Popular Indian Street Food With Low-Calorie Food Swaps

Have you ever wondered why the aroma of sizzling street food makes your mouth water? Street foods are a universal food delight that is present all over the world, and Indian street food is among the best.

The history of street foods dates back to ancient civilization when small fried fish was a street food in Greece and was sold as a popular snack. For many societies, street foods were born out of necessity. But today it stands as a testament to cultural heritage and food innovation.

In this blog, we will discover Indian street foods, their low-calorie food swaps, and other alternative foods for those looking for a modern twist. So, join us on this flavorful journey of finding better food swaps for street foods.

10 Popular Indian Street Foods

Street foods in India is a vibrant kaleidoscope of flavors that reflects India’s rich culture. Moreover, the diversity of Indian street food is unique; each region offers its own specialties, from savory to sweet.

Let’s look at the 10 popular street foods from different regions of India. It will help you figure out if they are good for your health.

1. Pani Puri

It is one of the most popular and the most loved street food in India. It is also known as golgappa, pani batase, or puchka in different regions of the country.

Pani puri consists of hollow, crisp puris containing chickpeas, potatoes, and onions along with spicy tamarind water. The puris are made with semolina and wheat flour. Each serving (6-7 pieces) contains approximately 200 calories.

2. Kathi Roll From The Streets Of Kolkata

Kathi rolls also known as Kati rolls are a speciality from the streets of Kolkata. It consists of parathas filled with grilled meat or paneer, with onions, sauces, and spices in a skewer. They are all rolled in the paratha to make it portable and easy to handle. One kathi roll consists of approximately 300 calories particularly, which consists of refined flour.

3. Chole Bhature

Chole bhature is a popular North Indian street food. It consists of spicy chickpea curry known as chole, served with deep-fried bread known as bhature. Bhatura is made with refined flour and then deep-fried.

Additionally, It is rich in flavors and quite filling. One plate of chole bhature with 2 bhaturas consists of around 1000 calories.

4. Momo

Momo is now one of the most popular Indian street food. It is one of the most mouth-watering food options from the hills of northeast India.

Momo is steamed dumplings and is made with the filling of vegetables or meat served with spicy dipping sauce on the side. A serving of 6 momos on a plate has around 250 calories.

5. Pav Bhaji From The Streets Of Mumbai

Pav Bhaji has a vibrant color and a rich buttery flavor. It is a popular street food of Mumbai, which consists of toasted pav (bread roll) with spicy mixed vegetable mash (bhaji). One plate of Pav Bhaji contains approximately 400 calories.

6. Jalebi

Jalebi is a popular sweet street option from the north of India. It is a sweet, deep-fried dessert soaked in sugar syrup. The batter is put in the oil in the form of uniform circular shapes to give a unique shape.

A serving of jalebi (2 pieces) contains approximately 150 calories, with most of it coming from oil and sugar.

7. Masala Dosa From The Street Of South India

Masala dosa is one of the most popular street foods, especially in South India. It is a crispy, thin pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter. The crisp pancakes are filled with a potato mixture.

The masala dosa is served with coconut chutney and sambar, which makes it a complete meal. One masala dosa with the accompaniments contains around 350 calories.

8. Dabeli

Dabeli is a famous food on the streets of Gujrat, especially from the Kutch region. It is spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet in taste.

It is made by stuffing a pav with a mixture of mashed potatoes and topped with sev and roasted peanuts. The accompaniments of this dish are tamarind chutney and garlic chutney. One serving of dabeli typically adds around 300 calories to your calorie count.

9. Samosa

Samosa is one of the most popular foods on all the streets of India. It is a triangular-shaped snack with a crisp shell and is stuffed with a mixture of potatoes, peas, and spices.

It is deep fried to a golden brown color and served with matar ke chole, or mint, and tamarind chutney. One plate of samosa with 2 samosas and chole contains around 200 calories.

10. Chowmein

Chowmein is a popular Indo-Chinese street food, famous all over India. This dish consists of stir-fried noodles with a variety of vegetables topped with fresh green onions.

It is known for its tangy, savory taste and appealing texture. One plate of chowmein contains approximately 300 calories. 

Street Food Swaps

Street foods are indeed delicious, but they often contain high levels of fats, sugars, and refined carbohydrates. Therefore, it is important to adopt a healthier eating habit to enhance the quality of life.

Street food swaps that you can consider:

By considering food swaps, you can make your favorite street food delicious as well as nutritious. It is also possible to replace high-calorie street meals with low-calorie ones.

1. Baked vs. Fried: Swap Fried Samosa With Baked Version

Samosas are deep-fried in oil, which increases their calorie count and fat content. Swapping fried samosas with baked samosa significantly decreases the amount of fat and calorie content.

Fried samosa contains 200 calories per plate, whereas baked samosa contains 150 calories per plate. Therefore, go for baked foods over fried foods and enjoy the same taste and texture.

2. Use Of Whole Grain Buns For Pav Bhaji

Street foods like pav bhaji and vada pav use white buns, which are made from refined carbohydrates and are low in fiber. Moreover, swapping those white buns with whole grain buns can increase the fiber content and provide other essential nutrients.

Moreover, whole grains have a low glycemic index, which helps in maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

3. Including More Vegetables In the Street Foods

Adding more veggies to these traditional street foods increases their nutritional profile. For instance, including more vegetables in chowmein and in the stuffing of samosa instead of just potatoes can make these dishes more balanced and nutritious.

Usually, chowmein is higher in calories and carbs and low in fiber; after increasing the veggies, it adds to the essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Nutritional Benefits From These Food Swaps

These simple food swaps increase your nutritional count; let’s have a look at them:

1. Baking is better than frying, as it significantly reduces the calorie and fat content. This helps you enjoy street foods and maintain your health.

2. Adding whole grains and vegetables to the food increases the fiber content. This maintains a healthy digestion, prevents constipation, and also helps in weight control.

3. Whole grains have a lower glycemic index in comparison with refined grains. So, this can help you with maintaining blood sugar levels.

4. Adding extra veggies and whole grains increases the content of essential vitamins and minerals. This improves immune function, energy production, and overall health.

5. The high fiber content from whole grains and vegetables supports healthy digestion and prevents any digestive discomfort. So, include more fiber rich foods with whole grains in your street food swaps.

Alternative Food: The Future Of Street Food

The dietary preferences and health consciousness of people are evolving with time. Simultaneously, the landscape of street foods is also undergoing significant changes.

The rise of alternative foods such as vegan, gluten-free, and organic foods is reshaping traditional street foods.

Vegan street food options include plant-based burgers, vegan tacos, dairy-free ice cream, and more. There is a rising demand for gluten-free street foods. So, vendors are providing rice paper rolls, gluten-free baked goods, etc.

Additionally, these days people are more into organic foods, which are grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Street vendors can include organic ingredients to cater to this group of people.

However, these alternatives bring some challenges and opportunities for street food vendors. It can be difficult to find quality ingredients and create something that is flavorful and does not compromise the taste. On the other hand, it also creates a new revenue stream and customer loyalty.

These alternatives are growing and developing in the West and are yet to be seen in the streets of India.

Conclusion

In conclusion, now we are aware of the calorie content of the popular Indian street foods. Your favorite Chole Bhature is among the high-calorie content foods.

Food swapping means choosing foods with fewer calories can help you enjoy the flavors of street food and maintain your health. So, wherever possible, swap your food with healthier ingredients and cooking processes. Moreover, you can find food swaps for weight loss on our website.

As street foods are continuously evolving with healthier alternatives, we encourage you to explore and enjoy the diversity and innovation responsibly. Therefore, take out the opportunities to experience new flavors, support local vendors, and make healthier choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Street Foods Safe To Eat?

Street food safety varies widely. To ensure a safe experience, look for vendors who maintain cleanliness, use fresh ingredients, and practice good hygiene. Moreover, busy stalls with a high number of customers are often a good indicator of fresh and safe food.

What Are Some Popular Street Foods Around The World?

The popular street foods from some parts of the world include tacos, elote (grilled corn), and tamales from Mexico. Pad Thai, som tum (papaya salad), mango sticky rice from Thailand, and takoyaki, yakitori, and taiyaki from Japan.

How Can I Make Street Food Healthier?

You can make street food healthier by opting for baked or grilled versions instead of fried. Therefore, choose whole-grain options for buns and wraps. Additionally, include more vegetables in your dishes and reduce the amount of sugar and salt for preparations.

Contact Us

We invite you to share your street food experiences. Moreover, if you tried any unique vegan or gluten-free street foods, do let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

Moreover, if you are looking for a customized diet plan for better health or want to lose with cheat meals you can contact us today. 

Our dietitians will discuss how we can help you achieve your health goals. So, drop your queries here, and our team will be happy to help you. Let’s get healthier together!

Disclaimer

This blog post will help you make healthier and better health choices. So be aware and take care. The most important thing to consider is your health before starting any specific diet or routine. Always seek advice from a doctor or dietitian if you have any concerns before starting.

Eat Healthy, Live Healthy. Enjoy a long, happy life.