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Plant‑Powered: Priyanka Chopra’s Vegetarian Choices In India & The U.S.

From dal chawal to avocado toast, Priyanka Chopra shares her favourite vegetarian meals and how going meat-free fits into her global lifestyle.

Anoushka Chakraborty

The latest ambassador for a plant-based diet is the desi girl herself—Priyanka Chopra! Even though Priyanka Chopra Jonas has made Hollywood her home, she still longs for Indian cuisine. In an interview for her new action thriller "Heads of State," the desi girl spoke about the comfort foods she loves from both her Indian and American homes and how her vegetarian diet keeps her on track for her health goals. Need a deep dive on Priyanka Chopra’s diet? Keep reading to know the tea about the secret behind Priyanka Chopra’s fit physique!

Priyanka Chopra’s enduring love story with food and Indian cuisine 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas's passion for Indian food is famous all over the globe. However, it is unclear what specific sacrifices she made, including giving up meat, to maintain her fitness level after moving to Hollywood. While promoting her most recent film, Heads of State, the star recently confessed her undying affection for and desire for Indian cuisine, and how she manages to enjoy Indian delicacies in balance!

So is Priyanka Chopra vegetarian now? Well, yes! In the morning, she also loves parathas, particularly loaded parathas. Among her favourite lunchtime dishes, she named “ghar ka khana” as her ultimate go-to! She said, "For lunch, I love ghar ka khana. When I'm in India, I only eat ghar ka khana because, in America, I get Indian food, but it always comes in dabbas. So, it's never like fresh phulkas." She continued, "I'm doing nachni rotis these days, which are amazing, super healthy, and taste good too. And then I have various things. I love bhindi, I love dal, I love aloo gobhi. As I said, I'm being vegetarian right now. And I always need dahi. I love having raita. Pickle is very important." The key to PC’s diet is simple—home-cooked food, mostly vegetarian and gut-friendly!

Decoding the Priyanka Chopra diet

While promoting her most recent film, Heads of State, the star recently confessed her undying affection for and desire for Indian cuisine. So what is her go to meal? She mentions, “Dinner always starts with soup. I love having a nice, warm soup. Then, having the same that I have for lunch. It is super tasty and healthy. Then I have various other things. I love dal, and I love bhindi. I love aloo gobi. I am a vegetarian now. Then, I always need a dahi; I love having raita, and achaar is very important. Salad’s very important.” She further added that, “Now when I’m in the US, I am usually not a sandwich person. I don’t like sandwiches, but I always like roast fish with veggies. I love a good, fresh salad,” she added.

So is Priyanka Chopra Jonas on to something with this recent shift to vegetarianism? Let’s explore the benefits of a vegetarian diet! 

Should I consider a vegetarian diet? 

Vegetarianism is becoming more popular among people for a variety of reasons, such as ethical or environmental issues, health concerns, religious beliefs, worries about animal welfare, or the use of hormones and antibiotics in cattle. For financial reasons, some individuals choose to eat a mostly vegetarian diet. The increasing number of vegetarian restaurants, the abundance of fresh vegetables throughout the year, and the increasing culinary impact of plant-based diets have all contributed to making vegetarianism more attractive and more accessible. Studies have long linked vegetarianism to potential nutritional deficiencies, but in recent years, studies have confirmed the health benefits of a meat-free diet. In addition to providing enough nourishment, plant-based diets are now known to lower the risk for a number of chronic diseases. 

Going vegetarian isn't always the best choice for your health if you don't adhere to prescribed standards for food intake, fat consumption, and weight management. Then, a diet consisting only of sugar, soda, cheese pizza, and candies may be considered "vegetarian." Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should make up a large portion of your diet for optimal health. Good fats, such as those in nuts, olive oil, and canola oil, should replace saturated and trans fats. Remember that eating an excessive amount of calories will lead to weight gain, regardless of whether those calories come from healthy, low-fat plant-based meals. So, it's equally crucial to regulate portions, check nutrition labels, and exercise often.

What kind of vegetarian diet is right for me? 

In the most literal sense, vegetarians abstain from eating any kind of meat, fowl, or shellfish. However, the term "vegetarian" is used by persons with a wide variety of eating habits, so if you are looking to make the switch, here are a number of diets for different preferences!

  • Vegans refrain from consuming any form of flesh, including eggs, dairy, gelatin, fish, chicken, or any other animal product
  • People who follow the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet avoid eating meat, eggs, and fish, but may consume dairy products
  • People who follow the lacto-vegetarian diet avoid eating meat, eggs, fish, and fowl but may eat dairy products.
  • Ovo vegetarians consume just eggs and no other animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, or dairy.
  • Vegetarians who limit their meat consumption to fish (pesco-vegetarians) or fowl (pollo-vegetarians) are considered partial vegetarians.
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