If you want to eat like the stars, you should explore at least one celebrity-approved salad. When it comes to leafy greens, carbs and macros Bollywood celebs mean business and they often get the most creative in the kitchen when they need to whip up their meals.
Besides lean protein sources, most stars prefer including water-rich foods, microgreens, good fats and a flavourful dressing in their salads, so as to maintain a balance in dietary components. Here are the kinds of salads which Bollywood celebrities swear by, be it for family diners or post-workout meals:
Deepika Padukone
Deepika favours a non-restrictive diet and goes for diverse ingredients in her daily meals. Coconuts, oats, lentils are some of her go-to options and for her salads, she prioritises taste as well as nutrients. Nutritionist Shweta Shah who handled Deepika's diet plans a few years ago had revealed that Pongal, porridge, upma, boiled and sautéed red lentils tossed in cooling herbs including mint, cilantro, and fennel, or purple cabbage along with millet seeds and a side of green salad are part of the actor's diet.
One of Deepika's preferred salad is a Thai salad, featuring carrots, tomatoes, bokchoy, bell peppers, green onions and nuts. Thai salads usually incorporate protein sources which are essential for muscle health and can help keep you feeling full. Thai salads also have herbs like mint and basil, along with spicy elements like chili. These can have potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties and aiding digestion.
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty has a longstanding penchant for cooking and also had her own YouTube coming show, It goes without saying that she whips up some creative salads in her kitchen. Most of her preferred salads are nutrient-rich and have a good balance of protein, fibre and good fats, like a desipeanut salad or a Mexican quinoa salad.
But one of her go-to recipes is a beetroot and rocket salad which doesn't need much cooking, just the right assembly. It features beets, rocket leaves, walnuts, goat cheese, walnuts and coconut sugar. If you're making this salad at home, you can try to caramelise the walnuts for a kick of sweetness.
Malaika Arora
Most of Malaika's meals are a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals and tend to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to ensure a diverse range of nutrients. For instance, she last year she shared a look at an egg salad recipe on Instagram. But the salad Malaika is seen eating more regularly is a quintessential summer recipe; it's a watermelon feta salad featuring cucumbers and arugula.
Watermelon is composed of about 92% water and water-rich foods like watermelon can contribute to overall hydration. Watermelon contains electrolytes like potassium, which plays a role in maintaining proper fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals. Feta, on the other hand, provides a good source of protein and calcium. The combination of watermelon and feta cheese in the salad provides a balance of macronutrients.
Alia Bhatt
Alia is a beet lover and finds fun way to include it in her meals. Who can forget the ingenious beetroot raita recipe which went viral? The Heart of Stone actor's favourite salad is a beetroot salad which features yoghurt, pepper and a hint of chaat masala. She's also known to add a dash of tadka to the salad!
Beets are a rich source of antioxidants, including betalains, which have been associated with reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. The nitrates found in beets may contribute to improved cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure. Nitrate-rich foods can also enhance nitric oxide production, which relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow. Moreover, beets are also a great source of fibre!