Malaika Arora has opened up about her everyday food habits, revealing why salads are not a regular part of her diet and why rice, dal and vegetables remain staples on her plate.
Malaika Arora has long been associated with fitness, but the actor and entrepreneur says her approach to food is not built around eating salads or skipping meals.
At 52, Malaika recently spoke about her relationship with food during an appearance on Sophie Choudry’s Famously Fit with Sophie on Amazon MX Player. She explained that she enjoys eating and prefers a balanced, home-cooked diet over forcing herself to follow foods she does not enjoy.
Malaika Arora: “I Can’t Eat Salads”
Speaking to Sophie Choudry, Malaika said she does not particularly enjoy salads.
“I can’t eat salads. If you give me salad, I feel like I am eating air.”
She acknowledged that salads work well for many people but said they do not leave her feeling satisfied. For Malaika, enjoying food is an important part of her lifestyle.
The actor described herself as a foodie and emphasised the social role food plays in her life.
“I live to eat, I love to eat. Food is such an integral part… food brings people together.”
Her comments highlight an approach to eating that focuses not only on nutritional value but also on enjoyment and satisfaction.
Rice, Dal and Vegetables Are Part of Her Lunch
Malaika also shared some details about the foods she prefers to include in her regular diet.
Rather than eliminating carbohydrates, she said she makes sure to have rice once a day. Her typical lunch, according to her, includes rice, vegetables and lentils.
“I eat a nice, good, healthy, balanced diet. I don’t skip meals. I try to eat as much home-cooked food as possible.”
She added that rice, vegetables and dal are an essential combination for her lunch.
Her comments are notable because rice is sometimes treated as a food that needs to be avoided by people trying to eat healthily. However, nutrition depends on the overall composition of a meal, portion sizes and an individual’s dietary needs.
Why You Do Not Have to Eat Salad to Have a Healthy Diet
Dietitian Dt Amreen Sheikh, chief dietitian at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, explained that salads are not a mandatory component of a nutritious diet.
According to Sheikh, many people find salads difficult to sustain as a regular meal because they may not feel sufficiently filling. What matters more is obtaining a good mix of fibre, vitamins, protein and healthy fats.
Cooked vegetables, dal, sabzis and lightly sautéed or steamed vegetables can also contribute important nutrients.
This means someone who does not enjoy raw salads can still build a nutritionally balanced diet using familiar cooked foods.
Rice Can Be Part of a Balanced Meal
Sheikh also addressed the common perception that rice should automatically be avoided when following a healthy diet.
Rice provides carbohydrates, which are an important source of energy. When combined with lentils or another protein source and vegetables, it can form part of a balanced meal.
Portion size and the rest of the plate matter, particularly when considering the overall carbohydrate content of a meal.
Pairing rice with foods such as dal, curd, pulses and vegetables can add protein and fibre, while cooking with moderate amounts of oil and salt can help keep the meal balanced.
Individual dietary requirements can vary, however, particularly for people managing conditions that affect blood sugar, digestion or weight.
Malaika’s Food Philosophy Is About Balance
One of the key points from Malaika’s conversation is that she does not appear to view healthy eating as synonymous with restriction.
Her preference for home-cooked food, regular meals and familiar Indian staples shows a more practical approach to eating—one that includes foods she genuinely enjoys.
She also stressed the importance of enjoying food and sharing meals with others, rather than treating eating as something that should always involve deprivation.
Sheikh similarly noted that diets built around eliminating favourite foods can be difficult to maintain in the long term.
When meals are enjoyable and culturally familiar, people may find it easier to maintain consistent eating habits. Food can also have an important social and emotional role, bringing people together and contributing to overall enjoyment.
A Healthy Diet Does Not Have to Feel Like a Punishment
Malaika’s comments offer a useful reminder that there is no single food or meal pattern that works identically for everyone.
For some people, a salad may be an easy way to consume vegetables and fibre. For others, cooked vegetables, dal, sabzi and other familiar foods may be more satisfying and sustainable.
The broader nutritional goal is to build meals that provide a suitable combination of carbohydrates, protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals while fitting an individual’s health needs and lifestyle.
As Sheikh put it, a healthy diet should not feel like a punishment.
