Why are some people skeptical about the place of noodles in traditional Indian cuisine, and how are rice noodles a healthy alternative? While noodles have grown in popularity in recent years in India, some may be suspicious about their position in traditional Indian cuisine. However, rice noodles offer a healthy alternative to traditional wheat-based noodles. Made from rice flour, rice noodles are a good source of carbohydrates and are relatively low in calories.