This is not your only option

If eating healthy is not high on your list of resolutions this year, because you have neither the time nor the energy, pay someone to do it for you instead. Soul's Care tiffin service is the latest offering from the low-cal dabba stable that might have you stick with those healthy eating plans

Each time we get swamped at Andheri or Dadar station by mustachioed, Gandhi topi-wearing men, deftly balancing numerous dabbas on their head, we imagine a hassled exec-type finding solace in mamma's dabba-esque food inside his miniscule cubicle.

Adding to the surfeit of options for those who don't have the time or the inclination to cook lunch is Soul Care's tiffin service.

We mouthed a 'Woohoo!' on spying our Soul Care dabba in office. A little sickened by the thought of steel dabbas being cleaned only the following day by the dabbawalla, Soul Care's small plastic dabbas packed inside a cardboard hexagon seemed a more hygienic option. Though, it's not the most environmentally-friendly.

What we liked: The aroma from our lukewarm meal was inviting. The meal comprises a dal, subzi, rice, roti, salad or raita, and a drink.

Though we are not big fans of brinjal, the baby brinjals stuffed with onions were delicious as was the Gatte ki Sabzi: besan dumplings in a slightly oily, but yummy gravy. The methi parathas were soft and perfect in number: three. It's always nice to have comfort food like moong dal khichdi in the middle of a rushed day, despite it being slightly bland.

The guys at Soul Care can also arrange for yoga sessions at your workplace.

What we didn't like: Those who like to keep tabs on their calories might be disappointed, as they go will find no mention of how the number of calories per meal. The Jaljeera startled our tastebuds -- as it should -- though it had an unappetising, sweetish aftertaste. What disappointed us most was the absence of a sweet dish. While a 'health meal' might not typically include a sweet dish, the guys at Soul Care do substitute salad with dessert at least once a week. We tried to ignore the guilt that came with packing away the remnants of our meal and the plastic-paper containers at the end of our lunch, but if you can deal with that, go ahead and order yourself a dabba.

A one-day trial tiffin costs Rs 130. A monthly subscription plan (includes 22 meals) costs
Rs 2,528 (inclusive of delivery charges). Call 25574992/ 9167206231

Some hits & misses...

Yummytiffins
Yummytiffins, the online Tiffin service by owner Pratik Jain attempts to provide healthy vegetarian meals to working professionals. The service gives you the choice of deciding your own menu. Our meal came packed in a brown cardboard carton. It included a 100ml container of Chhole (Rs 20), a similar amount of Bhindi-Pyaaz (Rs 15) and Moong Dal (Rs 12), plain rice (Rs 10) and rotis (Rs 3 each).

Register on www.yummytiffins.com.
Meals start at Rs 35. Call 9820223338

Magic-O-Meal
Run by two MBA graduates, Magic-o-Meal delivers tasty lunches packed in microwaveable boxes. The tiffin delivery service has tied up with Mumbai's dabbawallas to give you lunch options that are priced at Rs 49, Rs 55 and Rs 59 a day. The minimum subscription is 20 meals. Subscribe for two 20-meal packs, and get two additional meals free. These guys also have offers if you want to order a dabba for two (Rs 110 and Rs 125 for these). A basic Nano tiffin comprises dal, one vegetable, three rotis and a salad. Delivery charges vary from Rs 250 to Rs 300 (per 20 meals). Those who want their meals super-sized can opt for Big Boss, which includes dal, two vegetables, four rotis, rice and salad for Rs 72.

Diet Delivery
These guys promise to deliver a healthy meal and even have your calories counted for you. What you mustn't make the mistake of counting on is their customer care. We signed up for a 10-day trial meal offer and found that while the food is good: the salads are crispy and the khaana is wholesome, there's no guarantee that you'll have all of what you've been promised or even paid for. The (veg) Balanced Meal Plan (Rs 109) includes a dal, sabzi, three rotis, a portion of rice, salad and fruits, plus a drink.
The fruits were invariably missing from our dabba, as was the drink. We emailed, we called, and after much teeth gnashing, were promised a "free meal" to make up for the blunder. Post the free meal, we're back to square one and when we call to complain, even the owners go missing.