Jitin Gulati’s performance in Maa has been well-received. He has been able to stand up to an actress of Kajol’s calibre. Responding to a health scare that left him bedridden for two months, Jitin has become very careful about his eating routine. Even his favourite recipe, ginger tea, is a good and healthy start to a morning.
My dietary preference: Mostly non-vegetarian.
My favourite dishes are: Mutton curry and grilled chicken.
First thing I have when I wake up: A glass of water, but what truly makes me functional in the morning is a strong cup of ginger tea.
My breakfast is: Protein oats, 2 full eggs — omelette or boiled.
For lunch I have: Mostly grilled chicken and sweet potato or chicken curry with nachni roti, along with one green sabzi and curd.
My evening snack: Protein shake or eggs or a besan roti.
For dinner I have: Grilled chicken, sautéed vegetables, and a piece of sourdough bread.
My favourite desserts are: Moong dal halwa and dense loaf chocolate cake.
My fitness regime: Strength training in the morning coupled with 3 sessions of swimming or cardio or an outdoor activity during the week.
My favourite restaurants: Boojee Cafe, Project Hum, Izumi in Bandra.
My favourite cuisines: Indian, Italian, and Japanese.
One thing I cook very well: I make very good ginger tea. I also learnt how to make good mutton curry during the pandemic.
My favourite cooks in the family: My mother and my sisters (who have taken after my mother in cooking tasty food). I like everything my mother makes, but my favourite is aloo paratha, bhindi sabzi, and rajma-chawal.
As a child, my favourite food was: Rajma chawal and aloo paratha.
Foods I consciously have: I make sure that my protein intake is high during the day.
Foods I consciously avoid: Thankfully, I don’t have a sweet tooth, and sugar intake is something that I always keep a check on.
The weirdest food I have ever had: I have tried octopus. They looked better than they tasted.
My favourite food during the monsoons: If I can indulge, hot chocolate and hot almond croissants are my go-to in this weather.
My idea of a romantic meal: It depends on what the other person wants as well. I am okay with pizzas at home or a sushi dinner at a restaurant.
Food-related memories while shooting for Maa: We shot a lot of the film in Kalikapur, Kolkata, so we were never far away from great food. On our non-shoot days, we would venture out and try the local specialties. I have become a fan of Ilish Mach after this shoot. Since so many of our actors are from Bengal, a lot of the local recommendations came from them.
Tip on food for readers: Please do watch your sugar intake. Be aware of the food labelled as ‘healthy’; it may contain processed sugar. Take care of what you eat. Good eating habits are definitely a sure-shot way to longevity.
Representative Image |
Recipe of Ginger Tea
Ingredients (for 2 cups):
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup milk (or as required)
4 teaspoons tea leaves
Sugar (as required)
2” ginger (crushed or grated)
Method:
Boil water in a saucepan. Add tea leaves and ginger. Let it boil on a low flame for a few minutes. Add milk and sugar. Boil on a low flame till you get a nice colour. Strain and serve hot.
