Say no to trans fat & HFCS with us _______ At The Organic World, we offer the largest variety of organic and natural groceries under one roof. Our focus is to give our customers a ‘better choices’ range with a curated line up of healthier products whether it is organic, natural, pesticide-free or toxin-free. And what sets our range apart from other retailers is that our entire assortment of products is defined by our industry-first Not In Our Aisle List – a list of 25 (and growing chemicals/ingredients) that we have banned from our stores because studies have suggested that they could be harmful for you. Two such ingredients are High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and trans fat. HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP What is it? A sweetener made from corn found in sodas, juice, candy, breakfast cereals & snack foods. What are the possible side effects? Studies have suggested that consumption of high fructose corn syrup can lead to weight gain, spike in insulin levels as well as inflammation TRANS FAT What is it? Unsaturated fat which has undergone hydrogenation, it improves shelf life and consistency of products like margarine, baked goods & biscuits. What are the possible side effects? Studies have suggested that consumption of trans fat may be suspected to increase several markers of inflammation. At The Organic World, you won’t find trans fat or high fructose corn syrup in any of our food products.
TRADITIONAL DIWALI SWEETS Mithai is an integral part of Diwali festivities. We look at some of the traditional sweets eaten throughout the country
PAYASAM Payasam or kheer is a much loved sweet treat during this time. Different varieties are made and enjoyed - from vermicelli payasam in the south to kheer made with rice, dry fruits and milk in the north of the country. MYSORE PAK Hailing from the city of Mysore as the name suggests, this royal, fudgy delight is a must have during this time. Made with just four ingredients it is delicious and addictive! KAJU KATLI If there is one sweet that is synonymous with Diwali, it has to be Kaju Katli. It is made with khoya, sugar and cashews and it is easily the most popular sweet in the country at this time! GAJAR HALWA With a slight nip in the air, a warm, comforting bowl of gajar halwa makes for an ideal Diwali dessert. PATISHAPTA A traditional Bengali sweet, similar to a dosa or pancake. Made with a combination of flours, it is usually served with a coconut and jaggery syrup. SHAHI TUKDA This regal Awadhi sweet melts in the mouth! The humble bread gets a decadent makeover with dry fruits and milk. GUJIYA Popular during the festival of Holi as well, gujiyas are crispy dumplings, stuffed with coconut and jaggery, that make for a crunchy and delicious treat. GULAB JAMUN Fluffy balls of khoya dipped in a sweet syrup - every festival has to be celebrated with these delightful gulab jamuns! LADDOOS Made with coconut, besan, rava, ragi, or boondi - ladoos are an integral part of Diwali festivities!
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BY SAYING NO TO CHEMICALS
T TE R www.theorganicworld.com
Diwali is a time for festivity and celebration with loved ones. And what better way to celebrate it than in a thoughtful, mindful manner? Here’s how you can celebrate a gentler, more mindful Diwali.
choices this Diwali
MAKE YOUR OWN DIYAS Diwali is the festival of lights and a home decorated with lights looks so pretty! But with climate change and increasing pollution, conserving our natural resources is all the more important. Instead of using electric light décor items, use earthen diyas instead. Buy eco-friendly diyas or even make your own with clay or whole-wheat dough? There are loads of online tutorials that you can follow to make your own diyas. And they will be a fun activity for the whole family as well!
ents and not have to worry about the calories and sugar and excess fat! Make your favourite kaju katli with organic honey instead of sugar, make laddus with dry fruits or multigrains, use broken wheat and whole wheat instead of refined flour, make a kheer with bottle gourd, use quinoa to make a kheer – your options are aplenty! Wellbe Quinoa, Wellbe Wild Forest Honey, Organic Bottle Gourd, Vanam A2 Milk, Wellbe Wheat Flour, Wellbe Organic Almonds, Cashew Nuts and Raisins
REUSE COOKING OIL What do you do with all the leftover cooking oil? Most people just throw it away, but have you ever thought of reusing it to light your diyas? Strain the oil after it has been used and store in clear glass containers. Use them to light your diyas during Diwali.
NATURAL RANGOLI Don’t the colourful and intricate rangolis outside houses look lovely? This Diwali, use natural ingredients to make them. A paste made of rice flour, turmeric powder and flowers are eco-friendly options as compared to chemical-based colours. Wellbe Rice Flour, Wellbe Turmeric
CHOOSE HEALTHY SWEETS We all know Diwali is a time to indulge in your sweet tooth, and we are often guilty of going overboard! A lot of the conventional store bought sweets can contain high amounts of sugar, refined flour, refined oil, artificial colors and flavorings. So why not make healthier options at home? That way you can make your favourite sweets with healthy ingredi-
ORGANIC PUJA INGREDIENTS Rituals are an important part of festivities. Use organic wherever possible whether it comes to incense sticks or cones and flowers. Aurofeel Incense Sticks, Swaha Dhoop Cones, Swaha Edible Camphor
SAY NO TO CRACKERS Over the last few years people have become increasingly aware of the pitfalls of bursting crackers. Rising air pollution, sound pollution, harmful chemicals, animals and birds getting scared are some of the primary reasons. Let’s be kind to our environment and not burst crackers! ECO-FRIENDLY DÉCOR This is often the time most people decide to give their home a makeover. Why not upcycle some of your old sarees and convert them into curtains, table cloths or bed sheets? Use flower garlands as part of your décor. And why not get your children to create a DIY craft item to decorate their rooms, like lanterns and streamers out of old newspaper and stringing them? And when shopping, use jute/cloth and not plastic shopping bags. HEALTHY SNACKS Meeting friends is a big part of Diwali celebrations. Opt for baked, not deep-fried snacks. Choose snacks made with ingredients such as rice flour and cold-pressed oil rather than refined flour and conventionally sourced oil.
GIFT HEALTH Sweets are one of the most popular gifting options during Diwali – how about opting for something healthy and organic instead? Whether it is organic dry fruits, low calorie snacks, beautiful candles and diffusers or organic fruits, prioritise health and wellness. In fact, later on in these pages of these magazines we have some great gifting options for you. ______________ It’s all about getting the simple things right. Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a joyous, healthy and mindful Diwali. _______________ www.theorganicworld.com
MINDFUL GIFTING If there is one tradition that has remained a constant through the years, it is that of Diwali gifting. Families and friends get together on these auspicious days and exchange tokens of love and celebration. We have put together a list of items that make for guilt-free gifting. Gifts that espouse our better choice philosophy: for you, for the family and the environment. DIY BOXES Why not put together a box of healthy ingredients for your loved one to put together a delectable dish? Pick a recipe, buy the ingredients and you are good to go! PS - We have everything you need at The Organic World! SCENTED DELIGHTS Diwali is often the time people do up their homes to look picture perfect. Scented candles and diffusers are a go-to gifting option at this time. Not only do they look beautiful, they also leave your home smelling great!
CANDLE LOVE Diwali is the festival of lights – add to the brightness when you choose beautifully designed candles made with all natural ingredients. HEALTHY SNACKING Whether it’s spending time with family at home or catching up with your loved ones in online parties, snacks are never far behind. Diwali is a time for indulgence – why not make it guilt-free by gifting healthy snacks! FRUITS, ALWAYS Show your appreciation to our farmers who grow organic, chemical-free products that are good for you and the environment! Put together a fruit basket with a range of nutritious, chemical-free, fresh fruits as a gift for your loved ones this Diwali.
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Prakriti Herbals was started with the mission to ‘create a herbal retail line that focuses on simplifying and taking care of your body with effective fuss-free solutions’ completely free of chemicals. The brand shares the story of their journey thus far.
reduces the amount of products you need to use on an everyday basis. At the heart of everything we do, using herbal ingredients sourced from credible farmers and certified manufacturers has always been our priority. We also offer free personalised consultations online to the customers and help them select products that would address their skin & hair care concerns effectively.
TOW: Can you tell us a bit about your brand journey - what was your goal behind starting the Brand? PRAKRITI HERBALS: In 1995, our co-founder Neeta Adappa experienced a severe allergic reaction to a facial with synthetic cosmetics. She healed the rashes using the gel from the aloe vera plant but this led her to think seriously about the amount of harmful chemicals that were being used in synthetic skincare products and the herbal safe alternatives that nature had to offer . She realised that there were people like her who needed genuine herbal skincare and haircare products. So in the garage of her house and with a passionate background in herbs and cosmeticology, the humble Prakriti Herbals journey began. When we started our journey, we would supply our herbal solutions to salons, hospitals and hotels. The guests or patients loved our products and would often call our factory, ask for larger sizes of the products and encourage us to make it available to them in the retail space. That’s when her daughter Anusha joined her and we launched our herbal retail line that focuses on simplifying and taking care of your body with effective fuss free solutions. We are now a women led team working with an all natural retail range and also leaders in creating customised guest amenities for major hospital and hotel chains. TOW: What is your brand philosophy? What separates you from the clutter? PH: We truly believe that in the fast paced world we live in & the kind of hectic lifestyles that we lead, people really don’t have the time to do long personal care routines. Our products are effective and multi-tasking in nature so it
TOW: Can you tell us a bit about the product assortment you offer? PH: We focus on products that you need to use on a daily basis for healthy skin and hair as well as concern based products. In our skincare range, we offer cleansing milks, toners, face washes, moisturizers, facepacks, face scrubs and body lotions. In the haircare range, we offer herbal shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, henna powders and hair oils. We focus on solving skincare concerns like acne, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, dull skin as well as hair concerns like hair fall, dandruff, damaged hair and frizzy hair. TOW: What are your future plans with the brand? PH: There are many exciting product collections that we are launching this year. All of these products are gaps that we have identified in the busy working professional’s life. These products are formulated with the highest quality of herbal ingredients with the singular focus of taking care of your body easily and efficiently. TOW: What does partnering with a retailer like The Organic World with an industry-first ‘Not In Our Aisle’ list of banned chemicals and ingredients mean to you? PH: We’ve always admired The Organic World’ s mission to make a positive and progressive difference to the world we live in. Partnering with The Organic World which shares the same ideology in providing the highest quality of products to a consumer with the aim of improving their well-being without the usage of any harmful ingredients, totally aligns with our business goals in the most fulfilling manner. We also love that The Organic World has created a platform for local homegrown, made-in-India brands to thrive. In the highly competitive wellness world we exist in, it’s always comforting to see retailers like The Organic World shine the spotlight on local homegrown brands.
HEALTHY SNACKING THIS DIWALI FREE OF TRANS FAT & HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP Whether it’s at family get togethers or the ubiquitous card games, snacking is a must during Diwali! Here are a few healthy snacking options to consider. CUT VEGETABLES + DIP The easiest and the most fuss-free of all. Simply cut vegetables of your choice - carrots, cucumber, celery into sticks. You could also have boiled broccoli and baby corn. Make a dip from hung curd, or you could make hummus at home as well, and serve on a platter! HEALTHY SNACKS If you are opting for store bought snacks, look for those made with healthy ingredients. Wellbe’s range of snacks are maida-free and made with red rice flour and cold pressed oil. Indulge, guilt free! MINI IDLIS Simply steam miniature versions of this healthy breakfast choice (or you could cut larger idlis into four pieces) sprinkle with chutney podi and you are good to go! FRUIT SALAD An all time favourite! Cut fruits of your choice, sprinkle with chaat masala and you are set!
DRY FRUITS AND SEEDS Create a bowl filled with dry fruits, sprinkled with seeds and you have yet another healthy snacking option to munch on! CHIVDA Roast (not deep fry) poha, season with spices, peanuts, urad dal, curry leaves, chillies, dry fruits and enjoy guilt free! MAKHANA Buy a packet of roasted makhana from The Organic World for a fuss-free snacking option.
ENJOY DIWALI guilt-free! It’s hard to stay disciplined during Diwali, isn’t it? With so many sweets, get togethers and just the general air of festivity, being mindful of what we eat often gets to be difficult. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to avoid the excesses during this time. STAY HYDRATED The golden rule (and not just during Diwali!). Make sure you drink water at short intervals to keep yourself hydrated. SKIP SUGAR LOADED BEVERAGES Instead opt for tender coconut water, fresh juices, kombucha or even good old water! PORTION CONTROL Always try to take smaller servings and eat slowly. This will help you eat in moderation.
Masala Powders
DO NOT SKIP MEALS Try and eat like you would during a normal day in terms of timings to ensure your digestive system functions smoothly. CHOOSE WISELY Opt for fresh homemade food over store bought options. Chips or dry fruits for snacks? Go for the healthier option. EAT BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT This may prevent you from overindulging at your meal outside.
TRY AND EXERCISE Can be hard, we know, but even a 30 minute walk is great to kickstart your metabolism. GO EASY ON YOURSELF Finally, don’t beat yourself up if you have overindulged. It is okay. Just start afresh the next day.
AGE, 31 : CONTENT WRITER I’m Haya Hamza, a 31 year old Content Writer. I made the jump from living in a desert and teaching Kindergarten to creating content and calling The Garden City my home. I’m obsessed with mushrooms. I think the park is an ideal spot for a first date. I enjoy doodling and would love to make illustrations for children’s books. Diplo threw a whistle into the crowd during his performance and it landed straight in my shoe. Till date it is my most prized possession. I practice being mindful and present in my daily routine as much as possible while incorporating some form of physical activity
whether it is going for a walk, football, yoga or a 2 minute dance party before I take a shower. Apart from the obvious physical benefits, it makes me feel good mentally, keeping me focused and productive.
Eating healthy and cooking with healthy alternative ingredients is not a chore - it’s fun and easy! So we thought we would explore this a little more with our Mystery Box Challenge! We sent her our second mystery box to Ruqaiyah Aga, fitness aficionado, chef and member of Sisters in Sweat, and she rose beautifully to the challenge!
The Organic World Mystery Box Contents - Cold pressed oil 500ml - Mushroom - Greens - Quinoa small - Spices small packets - Green chilli - Pasta - Onion - Ginger - Garlic Here’s what she used: - Cold pressed oil 500ml - Mushroom - Greens - Spices small packets - Green chilli - Pasta
We sent out a box of healthy ingredients to a few of our customers and challenged them to come up with a dish of their choice with these ingredients at the core! Here are the results of the first challenge!
- Drizzle sauces of your choice - soy, chilly, tomato And here’s what she created - delicious - Mix well Chinese Noodles and Pasta! - Garnish with spring onions - and your delicious noodles are ready! Method - For the pasta, you can make a quick sauce using - Julienne vegetables of your choice like chopped tomatoes, onions and seasonings, carrots, bell peppers, beans and onions sauteing in cold pressed oil. Add a splash of - Heat cold pressed oil in a wok and saute water in case you want a more liquid sauce your cut veggies along with the mushrooms - Boil the pasta as per instructions on the pack, - Season with spices mix with the sauce, garnish with shavings of - Add your boiled noodles cheese and your delicious pasta is ready!
Indiranagar | Whitefield | Malleshwaram Yelahanka | Koramangala | Bellandur HSR | JP Nagar | Cunningham | HRBR Layout | Banashankari | Jayanagar
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