An increasing number of visitors at the ongoing Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) are opting for dishes that not only appeal to their taste buds but also help them stay healthy and in shape.
The event has been drawing large crowds at the Hotel Park since its launch on Thursday.
Noor al-Mazroei, a Qatari culinary expert showcasing healthy items at the food festival, said a growing number of people in the country are choosing healthy dishes. “I prepare healthy food items for all categories of people. On social media, I have more than 10,000 Instagram followers. I provide recipes for a number of healthy dishes,” she told Gulf Times.
“My shop here is getting more than 250 customers daily and the number is increasing. The customers are quite happy about the variety of food items I sell. As the festival progresses, the number is increasing as more people come to know about the shop from  visitors and other sources,” al-Mazroei continued. “I sell mainly healthy Qatari dishes. We have three major types of food: gluten-free, vegetarian and others. I am allergic to dairy products and egg items, and largely eat vegetarian food. I thought I should pass this option to others and familiarise them with different vegetarian items.”
Al-Mazroei noted that she does not have a restaurant but supplies food to several outlets in the city. “I don’t have a restaurant in the city but provide recipes to others and sell my dishes to restaurants. I plan to tie up with several other restaurants and provide  healthy food items to them,” she added.
According to al-Mazroei, the healthy dishes that she serves appeal to all age categories and provide a better eating option. “I have plans to set up a restaurant of my own but have not yet decided on the location. Hopefully, I will be able to start my own venture soon. I prepare food that is great to eat and easy to handle and will provide good health to 
consumers,” she stressed.