‘Bring your own chips’ is now viral in India. But health experts have a warning

The ‘Bring Your Own Chips’ (BYOC) trend is sweeping across several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Surat. Premium restaurants as well as street food vendors are embracing it.

Bring a packet of your favourite chips to a restaurant, choose from a variety of toppings and sauces, and voila Рyour chips just got a whole lot more flavourful. Imagine chopped tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalape̱os, and seasoned chicken, topped with dressings like guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Drooling already? Thanks to its tantalising appeal, this trend has made its way from the West and has gone viral in India as well.

This BYOC (Bring Your Own Chips) trend is sweeping across several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Surat. Premium restaurants as well as street food vendors are embracing it. Even Lay’s India jumped on the fad and recently launched their first food truck in Delhi to highlight creative and delicious ways to enjoy their range of chips

Ever made Kurkure Chaat at home? If you have, you know it’s an explosion of flavours that’s simply irresistible!

“This trend is known as ‘walking tacos.’ People love it because it combines convenience, customisation, and bold flavours. The ability to personalise their tacos with a variety of toppings and sauces makes it a fun and interactive dining experience,” says Karan Wasan, owner of Grapi, a Delhi eatery specialising in coffee and Italian cuisine.

His restaurant is one of the pioneers of the BYOC trend in India, going viral across social media platforms for making this unique concept widely accessible.

Wasan introduced the concept in November at his restaurant, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian toppings for Rs 200 and Rs 230 respectively.

“Customers can choose from classic options like salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and shredded cheese, as well as unique toppings like pickled jalapeños, corn relish, and chipotle crema. For those looking for healthier options, we provide low-fat Greek yoghurt, fresh veggies, and a variety of greens. Our menu also includes gluten-free and vegan-friendly toppings to accommodate dietary preferences,” Wasan shares.

Does it make your packet of chips healthier?

Since a lot of fresh vegetables and chicken are added to chips, many think it is a healthier way to eat your chips.

Priya Paliwal, Chief Dietician, Dietetics, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, explains: “On the positive side, you are adding lean proteins, fibre-rich vegetables, and healthy fats that can enhance the nutritional value of chips. Instead of just having a packet full of calories, you’re getting some amount of vitamins, protein and fibre.”

However, experts also have a word of caution. Many tend to go overboard with sauces and mayonnaise while getting their chips customised.

“It may seem like a healthier option, but it’s not. It’s important to remember that the base is still a packet of chips, which are high in calories, salt, and unhealthy fats. Adding chicken might boost the protein content, but if it’s cooked in unhealthy oils, it can negate any potential benefits,” adds Simrat Kathuria, CEO and Head Dietitian at The Diet Xperts.

“It would be wiser to add lots of vegetables as a damage controller, which brings the goodness of fibre. Then eggs and chicken can be added to up the trend game with lean proteins. The loophole, however, is the addition of sauces, creams, and mayonnaise,” adds Karishmma Chawla, Functional Medicine Nutritionist and Lifestyle Educator.

With Thanks and Reference to:https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/nutrition/bring-your-own-chips-is-now-viral-in-india-but-health-experts-have-a-warning/ar-AA1xlksy and https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/food/story/bring-your-own-chips-vegetables-chicken-healthy-viral-india-food-trend-2665900-2025-01-17