Actor Madhoo Shah (of Roja fame) has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. Phew! She avers, “I believe health is holistic, so it’s not just about what I consume through my mouth, but also through my eyes, ears, and mind.” On a less esoteric note, she chuckles, “I can add jam and pickle to any food. I love jam and pickle.” Not just in eating and gymming, Madhoo feels there should be consistency in all aspects of life.
My dietary preference: I am a vegetarian.
First thing I have: A liter of hot water. I’ve been doing this for years—it cleanses my insides. Sometimes I add a little salt, following the Ayurvedic principle of total cleanliness. When I want a full detox, I have hot water with a dash of lemon, salt, and honey. Then, I have a cup of Indian masala chai with gur because I love to start my day with a bit of sweetness. After that, I do my yoga.
My breakfast comprises: Whey protein and nuts like almonds and walnuts.
My lunch: I’m not very particular because I often have lunch with friends. I ensure I eat less but relish my meal without any “nos,” “dos,” or “don’ts.” I enjoy a good conversation and hearty laughter with my friends over a lovely meal. If I’m having lunch at home, I focus on dal, bhath, and shakh.
In the evenings: My girlfriends and I often meet for coffee. I enjoy my cappuccinos.
I love drinking coffee at: I love the club culture. I’m a member of the Willingdon Club and Breach Candy Club too, so a good chai with bhel works for me.
For dinner, I eat: Soup and something very light. I like to eat early, but what matters more is how much I eat. I try to take a long gap between my two meals, but I don’t go to sleep hungry.
Foods I avoid: Masaledar food; I like it simple. I have a sweet tooth, but I don’t indulge in desserts. Instead, I have my chai with gur and sometimes til gur laddoos.
My favourite cuisine: It was Thai, but now it’s Italian (pizzas, pastas, and salads). I also indulge in Lebanese, but nothing compares to my simple home food.
I can cook: Not really, and I’m not proud of it.
My all-time favourite snack is: Pani puri and chaat from Swati and Sharmaji in Juhu.
My childhood memories of food: My father, brother, and I often went to the Linking Road place famous for its pani puri or Sharmajis at Juhu. When I am in nostalgic mood I remember the Shiv Sagar Schezwan Noodles, which I used to eat with my brother—God knows how many years ago. Frankie at Sarkari Bhandar in Juhu was another favourite. I frequently dined at Little Italy and Mainland China with my childhood best friends.
The weirdest thing I have had: I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t have too many weird food habits, but I love jam with roti, mathri, bread, etc. I have a thing for jams. I can spoil any cuisine because I will add achar or jam to it.
My favourite beverage: Masala chai at 5 in the evening makes me go, “Wah, kya Taj hai.”
My best monsoon snack: The roadside bhutta with masala, and a cup of chai.
Sprouted Moong Salad |
Recipe Of Sprouted Moong Salad
Ingredients:
100 gms sprouted moong
1 small cucumber (finely chopped)
1 small tomato (finely chopped)
1 teaspoon lemon juice (or as per taste)
Pepper powder (as per taste)
Salt (as per taste)
Little sev (to garnish)
Method:
Wash and boil the moong in sufficient water with a little salt. Do not overboil the moong. Once done, strain out the residual water and let it cool. Add the finely chopped cucumber, tomato, a little salt, lemon juice, and pepper powder. Gently mix. Garnish with some sev and enjoy.
