‘I couldn’t resist eating chole bhature and gol gappe’: At 61, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares his secret to staying fit and healthy

A small platter would suffice and satiate your taste buds without any guilt. The key is to savour, not stuff,” he explained to HT Lifestyle. He added that he prioritises whole foods in his diet, mentioning, “Fresh and seasonal fruits are richer in nutrients, taste better, and are much easier to digest.”  Even during a hectic event in New Delhi, he confessed, “In fact, while in New Delhi, I couldn’t resist eating chole bhature, gol gappe, and Bengali sweets before coming to the event.”

He shared that the secret was maintaining a balance. “If I eat Chole Bhature for lunch, I’ll balance it out with a light dinner, like soup or grilled vegetables,” he shared. Beyond diet, he highlighted staying active, prioritising good sleep and meditation for better health. “I believe in long walks, kitchen movements, travelling, and engaging with people to keep my energy levels high,” he said. 

So, is practicing portion control really enough to counterbalance indulgent foods?

Nutritionist Aditi Prabhu, founder at NutroDynamix tells indianexpress.com, “Portion control always works, but whether it is enough to counterbalance indulgent foods largely depends on multiple aspects.” 

These are:

• The overall dietary intake of the said person, and whether it meets current requirements
• Current medical issues, lifestyle, sleep, activity level and stress
• Frequency of indulgence 
• Type of indulgent foods consumed, and the exact portion control exercised

“Particularly in the context of Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who has maintained himself well at 61, we have no clarity on his overall dietary intake, lifestyle, or frequency of indulgence, so it’s hard to say that only portion control is the key,” notes the expert. 

How effective is the balanced approach mentioned by Chef Sanjeev for maintaining overall health and weight?

According to Prabhu, the “balancing heavy meals with light meals approach” works well only if it is implemented effectively, but it is not recommended for everyone, nor does it give someone the clean chit to indulge. The key is to ensure individual requirements are met while implementing the approach.

For example, Chole bhature is not a balanced meal in itself. So, consuming just grilled vegetables or soup for dinner, even though lighter on the gut, will be nutritionally incomplete.

Instead of pairing the grilled vegetables/soup with some good quality protein would be slightly better, notes the expert.

Can non-gym activities provide enough physical benefits for people over 60?

The fact is that being active is important, Prabhu says, irrespective of age. “Whether or not one needs to indulge in a separate activity to be active would largely depend on one’s overall lifestyle. Also, what may work for one may not work for another.”

Most people above the age of 60 tend to lead a very sedentary life, especially in metropolitan cities. For them, such non-gym activities can be a great starting point for most, which offer multiple benefits. However, some sort of strength training is always advisable to help maintain muscle mass, strength and bone density, all of which decline with age.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.