Fitness freaks lap up healthy food options

Coimbatore: With the lockdown leading to gyms and crossfit centres being closed for more than three months, fitness enthusiasts are lapping up healthier food options to stay fit.
Salad meal subscriptions, locally manufactured cereal and energy bars coupled with healthy recipes in kitchens have become vogue among health freaks.
When the 21-day lockdown began, Varun from R S Puram assumed it was a one-time break. “ Even though I kept up my workout at home, I ended up bingeing on a lot of snacks, carb filled foods...I gained nearly 1.5 kg,” he said.
Others like Prasad have decided to consciously get back on track by eating a healthy, high protein, vegetable filled diet. The first thing he did was order a one-week lunch meal subscription from city-based Incredibowl.
“I began getting many new clients over May and June...who did not just order on-and-off meals, but also took full week subscriptions,” said Yegammai Annamalai, who offers carbohydrate-free high protein meals.
Besides meals, people are also consciously choosing healthier snack options. Nithyanandini Manoharan, who runs 45 Degree Fitness which tied up with Protein Bake shop, said they were getting a lot of enquiries for their truffles after the initial lockdown, especially hazelnut and cashew flavours.
Ashita Ramakrishnan from Singanallur, who specializes in healthy baking under her brand, Flutter By, said her orders have surged by at least 25% after the second lockdown ended.
Monsoon Harvest, another popular pick-up for health freaks in the city, said they recorded a spike in online sale post mid-May. “While our online sales increased post the third lockdown, we also got many people calling us directly asking if they could pick up their favourite option or flavour from our city sales office, so that it would be on stop shop and did not require them to visit department stores” says co-founder and director, Umeshwari Machani.
Calorie conscious people are also excited at the prospect of popular healthy food chain “eat.fit” opening up at Race Course, offering high protein meals. “There are at least four to five gyms in the circle, and this place would offer a guilt free meal that we could enjoy with family,” said fitness trainer, Ashish who also tried a branch of the outlet in Bangalore.