Bengaluru markets' void of healthier kitchen essentials?

Every supermarket you walk into has a spread of ketchup, pesto, pasta sauce, and sandwich spreads waiting for you. They instantly add flavor to dishes and cut cooking time dramatically. Given the convenience and accessibility of these products, it's no surprise they have become kitchen essentials, but do you ever reach out for a product at the supermarket and get disappointed by the abundance of preservatives and artificial additives in them?

Be it a probiotic-packed yogurt-based dip to go with your favorite snacks, a high protein hummus to spread on your daily rotis or sandwiches, or simply ketchup to use in everything and anything (personally not my favorite way to use ketchup), dips and spreads are a great way to add texture, flavor, and nutrition to dishes. Plus, the elevation in taste makes an everyday dish taste like it's from the kitchen of a gourmet restaurant. If you're like me, a hustler trying to juggle multiple things at once but still want home-cooked meals, these products become the backbone of your quick cooking - you have no time for elaborate recipes with piled-up steps that only pile up the dishes in your sink.

The market today lacks fresh, healthy, non-processed dips and spreads that we could use to whip up meals in less than 15 minutes - so many products to choose from, but not one that's my choice. From ridiculously high amounts of sodium and sugar to xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, and other preservatives, these pre-processed food products are better off in the trash than in your gut.

Furthermore, almost all the products available are cream/mayo-based and don't satisfy a well-developed palate. Products like hummus, fresh pesto, and vegetable and yogurt-based dips add unique flavors to your food - not compromising on nourishment.

The Bengaluru food market needs products that are wholesome, natural, and convenient to use.

Is this just a view of an overworked individual trying to eat healthy and gourmet on a budget, or is this a genuine problem for you too? What are your thoughts on this?