Restaurant India News: Swiggy EatRight Growth Signals Structural Shift in India’s Food Consumption

Swiggy has shared that, based on its internal data, every 1 in 9 food orders placed in January 2026 falls under its EatRight category. This data point signals that health-led ordering is no longer occasional or trend-driven. It is becoming a regular consumption behaviour across India.

The EatRight category currently includes 180,000 restaurants and over 2 million items across more than 150 dish families. These range from salads, soups, tikkas and kebabs to rolls, biryanis, sandwiches and North Indian meals. For restaurant operators, this reflects a broad-based demand rather than a niche segment limited to specific cuisines or formats.

Launched earlier this month as a unified category, EatRight brings High Protein, Low Cal and No Added Sugar offerings into a single experience. The category is built around defined nutritional parameters. High-protein dishes are curated using a protein-to-calorie ratio of at least 10 percent. Low-calorie dishes are capped at under 500 kcal. No added sugar items are unsweetened, naturally sweetened, or prepared with low-calorie sweeteners. According to Swiggy, the primary driver of adoption is a growing consumer mindset that views healthy eating as a lifestyle choice rather than a short-term goal.

In January alone, more than 34K items were added to the EatRight portfolio by leading food brands. Several national and regional players adapted menus to align with these criteria. EatFit and HRX by EatFit introduced multigrain rotis, Subway launched protein-focused rice bowls and salads, biryani brands such as Meghana improved protein-to-calorie ratios, while pizza brands like Olio introduced multigrain bases. Beverage operators also participated, with sugar-free options from Chai Point and protein-enriched beverages from Starbucks and abCoffee. For the hospitality sector, this highlights a growing expectation for menu innovation without altering core cuisine identities.

Consumer behaviour within the EatRight category also offers valuable insight for operators. Swiggy’s data shows that high-protein meals with 45g or more protein are growing nearly 3.5 times faster than the overall EatRight category. The most preferred calorie range is between 400 and 500 kcal, indicating demand for lighter meals that do not compromise familiarity or satiety. Categories such as rolls, sandwiches and salads are leading this shift, along with a noticeable rise in high-protein mini and single-serve biryanis. Portion control and nutritional clarity are emerging as key decision factors.

Geographically, health-led ordering is no longer limited to metro cities. While Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi NCR continue to show faster-than-average growth, strong adoption is also visible in cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Goa, Mysore, Coimbatore and Vadodara. This broad-based uptake suggests that restaurants across tier 2 and emerging markets may need to reassess menu strategy and nutritional positioning.

Deepak Maloo, Vice President – Food Strategy, Customer Experience & New Initiatives, Swiggy, said: “EatRight was launched with the core objective of making mindful eating a seamless part of the Swiggy experience. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Today, every 9th order on Swiggy is an EatRight order. This rapid adoption underscores a transformational shift in consumers’ food preferences- from sporadic healthy choices to eating consciously every day. Consumers today want food that delivers on taste, nutrition and convenience together, not as trade-offs. By enhancing accessibility, removing decision fatigue and integrating 'better-for-you' options naturally into the daily flow, we’re proving that mindful eating is no longer a niche preference.”

Ordering patterns further reinforce this behavioural shift. EatRight orders peak on Wednesdays and Fridays, indicating that consumers are integrating healthier meals into regular workdays rather than reserving them for weekends or specific diet cycles.

To support repeat behaviour, Swiggy has also introduced EatRight Streaks, a rewards-based initiative that incentivises consecutive EatRight orders. Customers can earn up to Rs 400 in free cash by ordering through the category. Within the first week of launch, 1.3 mn users participated in the streak. The campaign will remain live until January 31, 2026.

These developments point to a long-term recalibration of menus, portion sizes and nutritional transparency. Health-forward offerings are moving from optional additions to commercial essentials in India’s evolving food economy.