3 min readNew DelhiOct 20, 2025 08:30 AM IST
First published on: Oct 20, 2025 at 08:30 AM IST
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives‘ Shalini Passi recently whipped up her favourite cauliflower salad during a chat show, while recalling how she learnt to cook. “I don’t make time to cook anymore. The only thing I cook or bake is my makeup. Honestly, I learnt cooking when I was 20-21. Someone said to me, ‘Your mother didn’t teach you to cook,’ so I took it very personally and I learnt Chinese, Thai, Indian, including Hyderabadi Biryani. So now, I don’t cook anymore. Because everybody is on a diet. My son needs proper portions. I eat what I have to,” said Shalini, 49, adding that she loves “kadhi chawal” and garlic.
Stressing that, unlike what many believe, she doesn’t do yoga (at least for the time being), Shalini said: “I actually don’t do yoga. I stopped doing yoga some time back. I do meditation and breathing exercises, but not yoga actively. I used to do that very regularly,” Passi told Pinkvilla.
During the conversation, she shared her fondness for the cauliflower salad. “One of my favourite dishes is cauliflower salad. Salads are not always healthy, but this particular salad has nuts, black salt and capsicum, all greens and avocado, and oil and green apple.”
She also emphasised that she doesn’t have cheat meals. “I exercise. I work out a lot. I don’t feel the need to eat cheat meals or sweets or drink beverages like tea, coffee, or alcohol. I don’t feel the need because I have a natural high, and I don’t need to eat sweets or carbs to feel that way. But if I really like something, then I will eat it.”
Taking a cue from her, let’s explore the connection between clean eating and the reduced need to cheat on one’s diet.
Shalini’s diet and lifestyle reflect a highly mindful and disciplined approach to wellness—one that prioritises clean eating, movement, and mental balance over indulgence or quick fixes, as described by consultant dietitian Garima Goyal.
“Her preference for a nutrient-rich salad like cauliflower with nuts, avocado, and greens shows an emphasis on plant-based nutrition, healthy fats, and fibre. These ingredients support gut health, hormonal balance, and stable energy levels, making such meals both nourishing and anti-inflammatory,” said Goyal.
The absence of cheat meals, sugary foods, or stimulants like tea, coffee, or alcohol further indicates a consistent and conscious relationship with food.
According to Goyal, people who maintain such dietary discipline often experience better metabolic regulation and mental clarity because they’re not subject to energy crashes or emotional eating patterns.
“Her statement about feeling a natural high suggests that her energy and mood are sustained by balanced blood sugar levels, regular exercise, and possibly a deeper mind-body connection nurtured through meditation and breathing practices,” said Goyal.
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.
Shalini Passi opens up about her diet (Photo: Varinder Chawla) 
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