This new takeaway in Chennai will help you stick to your keto diet

If you’re on a low carb diet or want to get there, this takeaway spot serving up cupcakes, breads and protein balls checks all the right boxes
This new takeaway in Chennai will help you stick to your keto diet

This new outfit in Chennai home delivers brownies with no sugar, and cupcakes with no grain flour. Started by Maaria Kulsum just two weeks ago, the Keto Canteen, inspired by Kulsum’s own keto diet, caters a menu of snacks and desserts for anyone with a low carb lifestyle. “I’ve been keto for two years now, and have lost 18 kilos so far,” says the 40-year-old, who is better known for her cupcakes at Adoniya cafe, now seven years old and three outlets strong. She adds, “Whenever I would have a dessert craving, I wouldn’t know where to look, and what made it worse, was that I had full access to all the baked goodies possible to break my diet!” 

Her cravings inspired dessert recipes that provide healthy swaps — refined oil is switched for coconut oil, butter or ghee, sugar is traded up for zero glycemic index sugars like Stevia and wheat or maida is replaced by coconut or almond flour. 

The latter, she points out, “is great for people with gluten allergies”. The menu has 20-odd ‘treats’ both sweet and savoury —think pizzas, salami rolls, breads, brownies, protein balls and of course — cupcakes. Prepared (only on order) at their Chetpet kitchen — we get to sample a few choices off the list.

<em>Maaria Kulsum</em>
Maaria Kulsum



We immediately approve of the fact that the desserts outnumber the savoury eats sent to us. And waste no time diving into the chocolate cupcake — forgetting in our gluttony to be apprehensive about how it will taste with no sugar. Turns out, you don’t miss it! Between the cocoa cream cheese frosting on top and a base made with almond flour with Stevia for sweetness, we find it light and quite enjoyable. 

Next up is the brownie, which is even better, because it is even more chocolatey...Last, we pop a protein ball which to our surprise is the winner. Though a bit greasy to touch, these little energy boosters are chewy, chocolatey and coconutty all at once. They also pack in a wealth of goodness with superfoods like chia seeds and flax seeds as well as whey protein powder and coconut oil, making for a swell pre or post workout snack.

<em>Salami roll</em>
Salami roll


The salami roll and pizza may need some reheating if you’re home, and are tasty but nothing to rave about like the desserts. Although, we have to hand it to Maaria for building a ‘healthy menu’ of options normally found in the ‘fast food’ category. We also hear that since Maaria started posting about the Keto Canteen on social media, she has been met with an influx of queries on how to lose weight. 

So, she makes it a point to clarify, “I am no nutritionist, but what I do give customers is a calorie counter for each dish and a measure of macronutrients as well.” With requests raised for keto lunches and dinners, the next step will be to introduce whole meals on the menu.
 
Orders need to be placed a day in advance. Home delivery or take away from Adoniya outlets in Besant Nagar, TTK Road or Spurtank Road.  Priced between Rs 80 and Rs 900.

sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine

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