The world around us is filled with a lollapalooza of relishing, scrumptious dishes which titillate the taste buds of any person around. Earlier, plating any presentable dish was considered a herculean task and was mostly left to the lavish restauranteurs and pro-chefs or artistic people. However, the generation-z has amped up the presentation part of these dishes. So every corner of every city now has a number of eateries offering these delicious-looking dishes. But if we consider these food items from the nutrition perspective, how many of them will actually pass the barrier? Just as the current generation hoots for photogenic food pictures to post on their social media accounts or blog pages, people are on the lookout for healthy and nutritious dishes and food products which they can enjoy without any guilt. The time constraint of today’s world is another factor which demands for a quick, wholesome and healthy dish loaded with all the right ingredients which they can have on the go. This has led to innovation in the kitchens and research laboratories and modern novel food innovators have come up many options for right snacking and all-healthy-and-green options for the calorie conscious crowd. These unique foods are either fusion recipes of traditional dishes with healthier components, or alternative ingredient products of processed and packaged foods or totally new inventions. They are surely capturing the market with a steady and commendable speed, and have exactly eyed and presented to today’s consumers what they are looking for – a tasty food item with the goodness of the daily nutritional requirement and devoid of unhealthy food elements. Most of these superfoods are in ubiquitous use in traditional kitchens, but their potential was not really highlighted until their processed or revamped versions stocked the market shelves. These are simple and easily available. In this article, I have steered attention at a few of my favourite superfoods. Let’s have a look at them.

Moringa: Moringa has made headlines as the newly recognized superfood in town. Many of us have been eating the vegetable of this plant, colloquially known as the drumstick plant too. Moringa is easy to cultivate, as it doesn’t require much water and the plant grows fast. Studies show that this powerful plant is a great source of antioxidants and has anti-ulcer, analgesic and antihypertensive properties. Moringa powder has a mild, earthy taste and blends well with most of the food components to give a refreshing taste. It is high in protein, and contains a good amount of vitamins A and C. Usually, people add moringa to tea preparations or into smoothies for a nice, fresh and healthy drink.

Foxnuts: Foxnuts or makhana are the new snacking delicacy. Foxnuts are packed with myriads of healthy nutrients. Makhana is high in protein and fibre, and low in fats and calories. It also contains essential minerals like magnesium, phosphorous and potassium and is low in sodium. Foxnuts are abundant in antioxidants and help with revitalizing the skin. Foxnuts help in detoxifying the body. They are low in glycemic index. Makhana is usually consumed as a roasted and spiced up or seasoned snack.

We are supplemented with so many beneficial food ingredients in nature. With the intensity and quality of research today, we will discover many more such superfoods with great nutritional value. It is now our responsibility to dig deep into nature’s little secrets and find elements of precious value and use to us.