The recent spotlight on samosas and jalebis due to the health advisory by the Union Health Ministry in July had led to quite a stir among Indian street food lovers. While the health messaging about hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items is not for vendors, it certainly serves as a warning for people who consume them frequently, especially so that they can check on how healthy these foods are, and how we are consuming them. 

Among the many street foods popular in the city, the vada pav is Mumbai’s favourite street food, and undoubtedly nobody will give it up even for the sake of health. However, dietitians say there is more to the fried snack than meets the eye and express the need for caution. While there are minimal benefits, and the vada pav is tempting, they say it is important to monitor the consumption for health benefits because the most important factor is the nutrition content of vada pavs.

Nutrition content of vada pavs 
So, what is the nutrition contents of a vada pav? Gulnaaz Shaikh, chief dietitian at KIMS Hospitals in Thane explains, "A single vada pav is around 250 to 300 calories, depending on the size of the pav and how much oil is used to deep fry the vada. Most of the macronutrients tends to be carbohydrates and fats. There is little protein and almost no fibre unless you add any vegetables. A vada pav is also high in sodium, particularly if you have chutneys or fried green chillies with it."