We are what we eat. Serial entrepreneur and fitness buff Namu Kini walks that talk with aplomb. A year ago, she started an organic boutique and cafe - Happy Healthy Me, that took her mullings as a mother of two young children who had to be coaxed to eat healthy, and those of her friends who wanted healthy but not tasteless food, and had a Eureka moment. “I realised the eating healthy seemed like a punishment for many, but it did not have to be like that. That was when I decided it was time to bust the myth, as healthy food can be delicious, colourful and wholesome as well. Happy Healthy Me started as a one stop shop and grocery store for all kinds of organic food with a cafe that serves up healthy fare using ancient grains and indigenous food. The small, bright, perky and happy hub opened in Indiranagar last year and as the first Bisi Bengaluru of this year, it was apt that we feature some good gems in the foodie arena that are speading the word of good health and taking us back to those grains that we have forgotten. Like all good things that come to an end, there are others that become a part of your being, because they work wonders on your morale, mood and health. When Namu Kini started HappyHealthyMe, it was this overall well being that she had in mind. The bounty of goodness is what she has targeted with her itinerant style. And literally got her hands grubby in the process.
“It was my personal journey to give people options that were yummy and healthy, and make them realise that healthy food need not be tasteless or boring. Our groceries and organic food are a rage with many,” explains Namu Kini, who also shares that surprisingly, their most popular dishes are not salad and smoothies as expected but local thali, dosa and indigenous foods, as “people love their soul or comfort food,” The cafe menu is a blackboard full of offerings for those looking to eat wholesome healthy food.
It’s simple in that there is a thali of the day, which we have opted for happily on more than one occasion. The dosa of the day is a must have, and the three chutneys with it are delicious. We started with a watermelon fresh-pressed juice, that came full of goodness, and glugged away as we dug into the salad, a nice combination of grains, channa and millet in lettuce with a subtle dressing. Fresh but we would have liked some more flurry of different lettuce leaves, but it was wholesome. The baryard millet was our showstopper for this meal, delicious, smallest of morsels of goodness, which we had in a bisibelebath that was tasty and hit the spot meant for south Indian soul food.
We also ordered the thali, that came in coloured splendour, with a squash porial that was crunchy and home cooked in flavour, with coconut grated, there was ragi and millet roti, delicious and gluten-free, which even if you are ok with gluten, you will feel a difference in your demeanour if you stay away. The carrot sabji and sambhar was subtly spiced and tang infused. The dosa of the day was our fave (plain, masala and uthappam), and it came with a mint and coriander chutney, a peanut onion and coconut one. Their simplistic blackboard changes everyday and usually includes different and grainful versions of the thali, and a Dosa of the day. They also Mini Millet idlis. Namu also suggests the beetroot or spiniach infused dosa and ones made with other grains. The SuperSalad comes in a bottle to go, which we liked, and there is a Better Burger that offers gluten free bites. Sandwiches, smoothie bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juices and much more is on offer at this informal healthy haven. We had the millet jiggery payasam which we could not get enough of, totally delish and so “ajji-made”
Namu also does special meals for Cancer patients and health buffs. The cafe will also be starting a healthy dessert platter with sugar free organic jaggery based desserts like creamy hot chocolate, Chia pudding and their best, the Millet payasam.
A few tables outside, there are regular health buffs to get their portion of vegan here, and even regular cyclists. HappyHealthyMe is India’s first 100% certified organic food brand and grocery store and there are spices, deals, grains, oils and powders in beautifully packed packets. "Every single one of our food products is certified organic as per domestic (NPOP) and international (USDA) standards so you can be assured of quality, taste and safety," says Namu. We liked the ease and informal cafe feel, the fact that we could eat gluten free sugar free food that's home cooked and yum. Would be nice to have a healthy breakfast, and thalis that don't get over too soon! This new year, when hunger pangs hit you, the options here will satiate your tastebuds, and it will be a healthy meal that your body will thank you for. With a double helping of the jaggery payasam.
