Consumers' growing interest in diet, exercise, and leading a healthy lifestyle has forced the hospitality industry to shift its focus in order to better serve the growing number of health-conscious customers. As a result, businesses like wellness cafes and hotels with a focus on health and wellness have flourished.  The role of food is of paramount importance in one’s wellness journey. We spoke to Asif Fazlani, managing director at Fazlani Natures Nest- A Wellness Retreat, to understand the importance of food in a wellness retreats. 

He started with commenting, “a healthy ‘gut’ results in a healthy body and eventually a healthy mind,”. The menu at Fazlani Natures Nest is based on a balance of all elements of a healthy diet. He further discussed that today’s traveller is aware of the benefits of eating healthy while pursuing their wellness goals. There is a section of travellers/ guests who besides enquiring about various wellness treatments being offered at the resort are enquiring about from where the property source food ingredients and how food is integrated with achieving desired wellness results.

Travel for health and relaxation purposes has been increasingly popular since the outbreak. These days, people are more concerned than ever before with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. So, there is a need for menus that feature food that is not only tasty but also good for you. Broccoli, greens, quinoa, and legumes are all popular choices in the food market. Meat consumption is declining as people make conscious decisions to cut back. This has led to a surge in demand for nutritious options. Vegetarian options like sushi and nigiri, as well as meatless burgers, are rising in popularity.

“Our approach to eating always emphasizes fresh, organic, and seasonal. The farm-to-fork experience where fruits, vegetables, spices, and a wealth of local produce are gathered from the resort’s own gardens is delicious, nurturing, and bursting with flavours. The hearty dining experience at our restaurant, The Hive includes a variety of international best-sellers and local delicacies in line with holistic eating. The Hive is an eclectic global cuisine open garden restaurant that offers an enchanting dining experience in natural surroundings,”Fazlani further shared.

At Fazlani Natures Nest- A Wellness Retreat, there is an increase in demand for vegan and plant based cuisine. A lot of guests are instead opting for vegan cheese, meat-free dishes, and alternative milk products. Finely diced Cauliflower is especially having a moment, as the vegetable is being used as a healthy substitute for everything from mashed potato to pizza crusts.

Additionally, people are waging war on sugar. Natural sweeteners including maple syrup, coconut, sugar, fruit juices, honey, and monk fruit are in high demand. Dates and products made from them have also become popular among our guests. Sustainable food products sourcing along with eco-friendly “certified” products are also much in demand. Consumers are inquisitive about how their food has come from “farm to the plate”.

Sharing his thoughts, Fazlani opined that in 2023, wellness will continue to be top-of-mind, but it will increasingly come in liquid form as large part of the guest is looking for added benefits like energy, mental health, and gut health support. 

The wellness retreat is soon to introduce a “Pool side health bar” which can serve range of freshly squeezed organic juices to healthy and non-alcoholic mocktail options continue to take up more and more real estate on menus.

“Our vision of this year in terms of food offering is tailor made food, be it our awaited Satvik restaurant “Pathya” or Local authentic fresh food curated by local expert lady chefs in our village area, in front of our prestigious guest keeping in mind freshly ground spices in traditional “Sil batta”. And cook in front of them according to guest preferences and likes with wellness thought,” Fazlani informed.

The nourishment provided by the retreat's food is crucial to its success. What a wellness resort has to offer in the way of dining is just as important as the treatments and spas it provides. When it comes to money, food still plays a significant role in any wellness retreat's bottom line. Although there has been an increase in the availability of gourmet healthy meals at such retreats, fresh produce, organic, less oil, etc. is still much sought for.