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Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin thrower, is known to be one of the fittest athletes. After bagging a Gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, despite all odds, he has now won a Silver medal at the Pairs Olympics 2024. After winning the hearts of the entire nation at the International level with his outstanding performance, it is natural to wonder about his fitness regime, diet secrets, and tidbits about his cheat meals.
Hailing from Haryana, Neeraj Chopra follows a simple but strict diet to keep himself in shape. As per reports and interviews, the athlete is known to have a protein-rich diet with a lot of fruits to maintain a 10% body fat, which is ideal for javelin throw. To know more about his daily diet, favourite foods, and cheat meals, read on!
Neeraj Chopra’s Diet
Reportedly, Neeraj Chopra followed a strict vegetarian diet till 2016, but due to the demand for a protein-rich diet, he added meat and eggs as a part of his daily meals. If there’s one thing common in all the interviews of Neeraj Chopra, it is how well he focuses on maintaining the perfect blend of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fibre in his meals.
While training, Neeraj Chopra reportedly eats chia seeds, dry fruits, or a banana in between the resting periods. In an interview, the athlete shared, “I have really heavy training in the evening. After the intense training session, I complete my protein intake. Then, for dinner, I avoid eating carbohydrates like rice or roti. I prefer eating salad and a sabzi. Before I go to sleep, I have a glass of milk with khajoor (dates) or some gud (jaggery).”
Neeraj Chopra also has a sweet tooth. Even though he loves indulging in sweets, he refrains from eating any fried food or desserts during intense training. During the matches, he also focuses on eating salads, fruits, chicken, and eggs, which shows the level of self-control and determination of the athlete.
Neeraj Chopra's Favorite Foods
Neeraj Chopra has confessed his love for Indian mithai in many interviews. Some of his favourite cheat meals are:
Gulab Jamun With Ice Cream: Neeraj Chopra loves to have a fusion of the traditional Indian sweet gulab jamun with a scoop of ice cream.
Golgappe: Just like every Indian, Neeraj Chopra is a huge fan. In an ESPN interview, he said, “I think there is no harm in eating golgappas. It's mostly water, and most of your stomach is filled with water. The papri is quite big, but the amount of flour is very little. It's mostly water that's going inside you. There is some amount of spice, but that's another matter.”
Kalakand: Another classic mithai that the athlete loves is Kalakand, also known as the Indian milk cake. Made with simmered milk and sugar and topped with dry fruits, it is truly an indulgent dessert.
Churma: Reminiscing his roots, as per reports, whenever Neeraj Chopra goes back to his village in Haryana, he loves eating churma that is made with rotis, sugar, and ghee.
