Discussion Focus: Emerging Dietary Fads in India by 2025

In the ever-evolving world of nutrition, India is making significant strides towards a healthier and more sustainable future. The focus is shifting towards real solutions, such as real protein, gut support, healthy aging, smarter snacking, and affordable wellness.

A growing interest in underutilized plants and traditional grains is driving the trend. These foods, rich in health and sustainability benefits, are finding their way into daily diets, from omega-3 chia seeds to adaptogenic ashwagandha bars and collagen-enriched drinks. Functional foods, once a niche market, are becoming essential for sports, stress, hormonal balance, and longevity.

India's nutrition scene is becoming more diverse, with high-fiber superfoods like oats, millets, psyllium husk, makhana, and ground flaxseed gaining popularity. This agricultural diversity is leading to colorful, nutrient-rich diets, with traditional grains, wild greens, nuts, seeds, and underused plants becoming more prevalent.

The rise of functional foods and adaptogen nutrition is a significant trend in India, intersecting with sports and cognitive health. Supplements like creatine, omega-3s, nootropics, and smart hydration shaping mental focus, workout recovery, and hormonal resilience are shaping the nutrition landscape.

The focus on protein is another key trend. About 39% of Indians chose “high protein content” as a top factor when buying food in early 2024, up from 34% the previous year. Protein-rich foods like eggs and dairy are being promoted to improve child nutrition, including through government mid-day meal schemes.

However, addressing the nutritional paradox, where India continues to combat undernutrition and rising obesity simultaneously, is a challenge. India continues to combat this issue via schemes like Anaemia Mukt Bharat (iron-folic acid supplementation), PM Poshan Scheme, and POSHAN Abhiyan. Emphasis is also placed on promoting millets, kitchen gardens, and region-specific crops to diversify diets, coupled with social safety nets and fiscal measures to make nutritious food affordable.

Despite progress in reducing the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet, the cost of a nutritious diet has risen nearly 47% in India between 2017 and 2024. This rising cost remains a major barrier, especially in rural areas and among poorer populations where protein intake has declined.

In conclusion, Indian nutrition trends towards 2025 prioritize protein and gut health-based functional foods, tackling undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies through policy, and overcoming affordability issues to make healthy diets more accessible across income groups and geographies. This effort faces challenges due to rising food costs and uneven rural progress. Nonetheless, the focus on real solutions and a more diverse, nutrient-rich diet is a step in the right direction for a healthier India.

[1] [Source] [2] [Source] [3] [Source] [4] [Source]

The global focus on wellness and fitness-and-exercise is extending to India, where real protein, gut support, and smart hydration have become essential for sports, mental health, and longevity.
The growing demand for health-and-wellness products in India is evident in the increasing popularity of adaptogenic supplements like ashwagandha bars and collagen-enriched drinks.
Underutilized plants, traditional grains, and superfoods like chia seeds, oats, millets, and makhana are becoming integral components of Indian diets, contributing to a more diverse and nutrient-rich food culture.
To mitigate the nutritional paradox of undernutrition and obesity, India has launched initiatives like Anaemia Mukt Bharat, PM Poshan Scheme, and POSHAN Abhiyan, promoting millets, kitchen gardens, and region-specific crops to diversify diets.
Nutrition science plays a crucial role in India's health-and-wellness landscape, with creative, affordable, and nutrient-rich solutions at the forefront of the changing landscape, such as smarter snacking and affordable wellness.
Despite progress in reducing food poverty, the cost of healthy diets remains a significant barrier, especially in rural areas and among poorer populations, with the cost of a nutritious diet rising nearly 47% between 2017 and 2024.
To make healthy diets more accessible, efforts are being made to implement social safety nets and fiscal measures to make nutritious food affordable, while also promoting healthier food choices within government programs like the mid-day meal scheme for children.
The Indian nutrition landscape is evolving towards a future centered on gut health, functional foods, and sustainable, nutrient-rich diets, leading to a healthier and more prosperous India overall. [1] [2] [3] [4]