Is bite-sized the new eating rule?

Watch out, the new buffet might just fit into the palm of your hand if a food order that's catching up amongst people has its way. Say hello to 'mini-me' variations of your regular fare — or food that borders on the 'less is more' principle.

So, you now have everything, from mini pies, to smaller-sized pizzas called pizzettes, micro-cupcakes, spoon desserts with little cakes and tiramisus that just fit into your little spoon and sliders or mini burgers and more! The trend has become so hugely popular that restaurants are playing with the idea of mini menus and health-conscious folks are happy to simply tuck into these miniatures on a tray at parties. Is eating smaller quantities of the regular tempting foods the lifestyle change you've been looking for?

It's healthy and takes care of cravings too

The idea of a mini indulgence is apt for people with sedentary jobs that leave little time to exercise. It also allows you to indulge without all those calories. For those who also have to eat out more frequently, it is extremely important to eat light and healthy, and this is where minis come in, says city-based dietician, Sheela Tanna. "Eating more can lead to indigestion, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol. So the best way to lessen calorie intake is to cut down on portion size and replace unhealthy oil and butter-laden, fried delicacies with broiled, roasted or grilled, smaller portions. Bite-size foods are a great option. They are basically finger foods, and one can experience so many different foods, tastes and textures with these. If you choose the right mini foods, you can enjoy a guilt-free, healthy and a low-calorie way to party," she adds.

Has its pros and cons

But while less seems to be a good idea, it also comes with its drawbacks, feels macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal. "From a macrobiotic perspective, every person has a different requirement diet-wise, based on sex, age, constitution, condition, and activity levels — bite -size quantities of food in the endeavour to keep calories down may work for some people. But while the whole theory of eating these small portions is to keep calories down, it can work to reduce the weight, but it may not work for people with ailments and health conditions." In addition, not much attention is paid to the type of such foods. "For example, pizzas are still made of refined carbs (maida) and still have cheese and this may be problematic for someone battling diabetes or even an irritable bowel disorder. In fact, a lot of bite-size foods are made with refined carbs, and are not particularly healthy. While the focus is on the portions, it may not be on the quality of foods eaten. One must keep this in mind," she adds.

Make your own pizzettes

Little pizzettes are a favourite with kids. They are also perfect for circulating around at your spa brunch or alfresco lunch and you can experiment with a whole lot of flavours with them...

Here's how to make tomato-basil pizzettes:

-Chop the tomatoes and mix them with olive oil and thyme and season them. -Grill them until soft. -Cut the grilled tomatoes into smaller pieces. -Heat the grill and meanwhile, roll out your pizza dough and cut into small circles. -Let the bases cook on the grill. Flip both sides till they are browned. -Place the cheese and grilled tomatoes on them. Grill this until cheese melts. Garnish with basil leaves. -You can add a variety of toppings to your mini pizzas, such as roasted eggplant, caramelised onions, mushrooms, olives, goat cheese, smoked salmon and more.

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