If Urvashi Rautela’s perfect body is anything to go by, we can blindly follow her diet. The model-actress who was seen alongside Randeep Hooda in Inspector Avinash (2023) is known for being one of the fittest actresses with alabaster skin. The Uttarakhand-born actress believes diet is the most crucial element of being fit. She has been religiously following the diet by her nutritionist Shweta Shah who is also the ‘go to’ nutritionist for many Bollywood celebrities and cricketers.
“I met Urvashi through a referral by renowned Pilates trainer Yasmin Karachiwala. Her main concerns were her skin and hair. Though she is genetically blessed with beautiful skin and hair, they tend to be subjected to a lot of sun exposure and chemical treatments. So, I carved out a holistic and natural diet based on Ayurveda which includes antioxidants, proper hydration and detoxifying juices to cleanse the system and boost energy levels,” says Shah who has been working with Rautela for three years now.
So, what does the diet entail? Largely homemade meals with lots of millets, ghee and juices. Breakfast on days when the actress is not on intermittent fasting is a mixture of proteins and carbs. “She has her breakfast post workout and so we ensure that this meal is the most energy giving. It’s generally eggs with homemade protein shake or poha with sprouts. Mid-morning snacks involve fruits. Urvashi loves grapes and strawberries. Her lunch is very simple – homemade roti, subzi and some salad. I ensure that her dinner is protein-rich. So it’s grilled chicken or fish along with dudhi muthiyas or paneer,” reveals Shah. Since the actress loves parathas shah ensures she makes them using millets and not the regular wheat flour. “She was surprised that millet parathas can taste so good. We introduced her to kodo and foxtail millet parathas along with moong dal chillas with a dollop of ghee. White rice is replaced with quinoa or cauliflower rice.”
Rautela loves soups and stews. But instead of swapping them for main meals Shah uses them as fillers. Ash gourd soup is her favourite which also takes care of her acidity. Drumstick celery soup, pumpkin carrot soup and spinach soup are also part of her diet. Juices are also integral to Rautela’s diet which help her deal with the extremities that her skin and hair go through. “The main juice in her diet is a mint and coriander juice which helps to detox and bring a glow to her skin. Then there is parsley, celery, mint, cucumber and grated ginger juice. This one takes care of bloating and water retention. She also loves her carrot, amla and beetroot juice. I recommend juices at mid morning or before workout,” says Shah.
The former beauty queen follows a strictly vegetarian diet during the month of shravan and Navratri. During such periods Shah boosts her paneer, sprouts, chickpeas and dal intake. “Urvashi’s comfort food is khichdi, which is a complete protein for vegetarians. It also takes care of her bloating,” says Shah. One thing that Rautela avoids at any cost is packaged food. “Even while traveling, Urvashi ensures to carry homemade meals and snacks. On occasions when that’s not possible she instructs the hotel kitchen to make her something healthy,” says Shah. Rautela’s commitment to homemade also extends to her protein shake. Instead of synthetic, market bought powders, Shah makes a special blend which comprises of nuts, seeds and makhana powered and ready to be mixed in milk or breakfast bowls.
When the actor is traveling abroad for shoots or fashion events she carries dates and fennel seeds to acclimatise. “Eating foods in the right combination is very important. For instance, one should never mix fruits, vegetables or meat with any kind of milk products. These incompatible food combinations are called virudh aahar in Ayurveda. They can disturb the gut and lead to inflammation, skin disorders and autoimmune diseases.”
A wholesome, natural diet ensures that Rautela doesn’t give up on her indulgences which includes tiramisu or cheesecake at times. But then her burns it out on her workouts which include a combination of weight training, yoga and morning runs.
Rautela, who went to Cannes Film Festival this year, will be making her Hollywood debut with Michele Morrone and will also be seen in an forthcoming biopic on Parveen Babi.
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