Right in the heart of Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, there's a special spot inside the Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital called Soma: The Ayurvedic Kitchen. This isn't your ordinary restaurant; it's a place where every dish on the menu is designed to be good for your health, following Ayurvedic principles. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian approach to medicine that focuses on healing and wellness through natural means, like diet and lifestyle changes.

The hospital where Soma is located is all about helping people feel better using these traditional methods. They offer a variety of treatments and activities such as panchakarma therapy (a type of detox), yoga classes, and meditation spaces. There are also comfy rooms for patients to stay in and doctors available all the time. But one of the coolest things about the hospital is the Soma restaurant. The idea is to serve food that not only tastes good but also supports the health of the people eating it.

At Soma, they cook up a wide range of foods, from snacky Dumplings to the hearty dish Pav Bhaji, and they manage to do so without using any onion or garlic. This might sound a bit unusual, but it's all about sticking to Ayurvedic guidelines, which say certain foods are better for your health. The restaurant is a hit not just with patients staying at the hospital but also with visitors from outside who just want to try something new and healthy. Everyone who eats there ends up talking about how great it is to have a meal that’s both delicious and good for you. And Soma has earned a special title as the first restaurant of its kind in India dedicated to Ayurvedic cuisine.

In recent times, health cafes have become a big trend in India. They come under many names like vegan cafes, green cafes, cafes that offer alternative meat options, local cafes, and now, with the addition of Ayurvedic cafes like Soma, it's clear this trend is growing fast. A recent study by FICCI-PWC on the food industry in India highlights this, pointing out that more and more people are looking for food that's not just tasty but also boosts their health. This growing interest in healthy eating options is a big reason why we're seeing so many new kinds of cafes and restaurants opening up, offering healthier choices to their customers.

In the world of Indian food and beverage (F&B), restaurant owners and chefs are quickly adapting to people's growing interest in eating healthier. They're doing this by either bringing in new, healthier types of food or by making their existing dishes healthier. Now, many are focusing on creating dishes that are based on plants, use less oil and spices, and overall, are just better for you.

This push for healthier eating isn't just happening in restaurants. Online food businesses like FreshMenu and Grow Fit are popping up to meet people's demands for food that's good for them. Restaurants are really embracing this change. You'll find many menus now featuring organic options, dishes high in protein but low in carbs, and moving away from traditional, heavier dishes like buttery rajma or biryani.

The interest in healthy food is also making waves in the world of packaged food. There's a growing demand for nutrition bars, different kinds of yogurt, and other healthy snacks. Chef Ajatika from NutriMeal Box in Gurugram says that this trend is only going to get bigger. People are starting to appreciate traditional foods and ingredients again, like millets. These old grains, such as Jowar and Bajra, are being used in modern baking to make cakes, cookies, muffins, and crackers. This interest in traditional and healthy ingredients is being driven by home chefs too. They run small kitchens where they love to experiment while making sure everything is high quality.

Over at the Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital, Dr. Himanshu says that their restaurant, Soma, serves dishes that are fresh and made just like at home. They started Soma to show how Ayurveda, an ancient way of life and healing, can blend with food to create healthy dishes. Despite being an Ayurvedic Kitchen, some people are surprised to find fast food items like Vada Pao and Dumplings on their menu. But it's all part of their plan to offer healthier versions of these popular foods.

Countries that traditionally consumed a lot of meat began to notice the negative impacts of such diets, leading to a growing interest in vegetarianism. This shift was significantly propelled by climate activists, who highlighted the environmental damage caused by the meat industry. Their advocacy for plant-based diets has led to the creation of alternatives like mock meats, plant-based butters, milks, cheeses, and egg substitutes.

Abhishek Sarwate, CEO of Utopian Drinks, believes that Ayurvedic cafes bring a fresh perspective to this trend. He suggests that while people are always on the lookout for something innovative, they also crave familiarity. Ayurvedic cafes manage to offer both by combining traditional wisdom with a modern twist. Initially, these cafes might seem a bit unusual to customers, but the deep-rooted belief in Ayurveda within Indian culture presents a unique opportunity. Sarwate thinks that with the right information, training, and tailored menus, Ayurvedic cafes can become a place where people not only enjoy delicious, healthy food and drinks but also find natural ways to address their health issues according to Ayurvedic principles.

Sarwate also notes the potential benefits of incorporating Ayurvedic principles and superfoods such as amaranth, tulsi, amla, and ashwagandha in a B2B context. For Utopian Drinks, aligning with Ayurvedic concepts opens up possibilities for niche marketing, creating partnerships with health cafes, and increasing brand visibility. Such collaborations can offer mutual benefits, like cross-promotion and shared expertise in nutrition and holistic health, thereby expanding the market and enhancing the brand.

While vegan and healthy cafes were already making names, the newly introduced concept of Ayurvedic cafes represents a convergence of tradition and innovation, appealing to a niche yet significant segment of consumers interested in holistic health and wellness. Unlike the broader vegan movement, which primarily addresses environmental and ethical concerns, Ayurvedic cafes tap into the cultural and medicinal heritage of India. They offer not just food but a dietary experience steeped in ancient wisdom, promising not only taste but healing. This new trend enriches the culinary landscape by providing a unique blend of nostalgia and novelty, potentially leading to a deeper, more personal engagement with food as a means of wellness and healing.