ET Online
Jul 14, 2025
Deep-fried and sugar-heavy snacks like samosa, jalebi, vada pav, and laddoos may taste divine—but they quietly add unhealthy fats and sugars to your diet. And that adds up fast.
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AIIMS Nagpur and other government-run cafeterias have started displaying warning boards showing how much oil, sugar, and calories are in these snacks—right at the point of sale.
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The boards don’t just say “unhealthy”—they break down the numbers. One jalebi = around 5 teaspoons of sugar. One vada pav = over 300 calories. Transparency is the goal.
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This initiative is based on “nudging”—a behavioural science tool. Instead of banning food, it gives you the information to choose what and how much you want to eat.
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According to the Indian Health Ministry, India could see 449 million overweight adults by 2050. That includes higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, and even early ageing.
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Experts from the Cardiological Society of India are calling sugar and trans fats the new tobacco. The logic? Both are addictive, socially accepted, and silently damaging over time.
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This isn’t about cancelling your favourite foods. You can still enjoy a samosa—but now you’ll know what it’s doing to your body, and that makes every bite more mindful.
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Swap one deep-fried item for something roasted or baked. Try jaggery-based sweets. Add a salad before your snack. Small tweaks, over time, protect your heart and mind.
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Your food choices are yours to make. But with the facts in front of you, you’re better equipped to eat smarter—and still enjoy life’s tasty moments.
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