Mumbai's health cafe owners share their wellness mantras

Staying fit while eating out has been an oxymoron of sorts mdash although delicious most restaurant foods are far too sugary salty soaked in arteryclogging fats and packed with unhealthy carbs A new breed of cafeacute entrepreneurs though is determined to challenge this perception Their goal To offer you the convenience and sumptuous luxury of restaurant meals while also helping you meet your nutritional targets But those behind this culinary revolution must also don the daunting mantle of being role models for their patrons With the everevolving nutrition and fitness concepts they must also go the extra mile to stay abreast with the latest trends Three such fitprenuers share their nutritional fitness and wellness mantras and what it takes to be the torchbearers for those who turn to them to stay fit healthy and wellfedSandeep Sachdev Director Easyhuman CafeFrom a banker who weighed a staggering 125 kilos to his current avatar as a fitness entrepreneur nutritionist and motivational speaker Sachdevs journey is all but ordinary Along the way he also picked up the title of the Biggest Loser shedding 50 kilos to win the reality show and founded a popular health cafeacute in South Mumbai He is now gearing for the halfIronman scheduled in October in GoaI believe Your nutritional fitness and lifestyle choices must be sustainable in the long term to be effective Dont be swayed by popular trends or take up a routine that worked for a friendfamily member Instead understand what works for you and your body and stick to thatMy fitness routine I work out for roughly 60 to 75 minutes a day at least five hours a week This includes two strength and two functional workouts and a run of 9 to 10 km As a group exercise instructor at Easyhuman I also take two classes mdash easy spin and easy strength On days that I cant make it to the gym I put on my running shoes and head out For training for my first halfIronman I am steadily improving the quality of my trainingNorwegian salmon steak superfood bowlI eat All my meals are grain dairy and glutenfree I eat five small meals through the day It helps that my workspace is a health cafeacute which automatically keeps me aligned with my nutritional targets While Sundays are my cheat days where I will binge on pizza fried fish and French fries Ive found that over time my binge portions have also steadily reduced The key to staying fit is to surround yourself with people who share the same commitment to fitness as you do mdash this ensures that you are automatically making the right choicesWellness to me is My workouts are my form of meditation It is the only time in the day I completely dedicate to myself Ive come up with some of my brightest ideas and solutions while working out I also try to meditate regularly and enjoy reading biographies and autobiographies these keep my emotional battery rechargedMenu mantras Fare made of ingredients that your body wants to eat mdash from pizza to butter chicken nothing is off limits here The only caveat is that despite being free of gluten dairy transfats and processed foods the dishes taste exactly like youd expect them toSonal BarmechaFounder Sante Spa CuisineA yoga and holistic living enthusiast who found herself frustrated by a lack of healthy dining options Barmecha decided to create the kind of restaurant she wouldnt mind eating in every day This led to the genesis of Sante Spa Cuisine an allvegetarian space that focuses on keeping it simple and deliciousI believe We are what we eat Simple nutritious food also breeds a simple and healthy mindset and lifestyle by keeping your gut and digestive system healthyMy fitness routine For me spirituality and physical wellness are interconnected I practise yoga and meditation to keep my mind and body healthy I also run every day and regularly participate in marathonsTofu ratatouilleI eat The key to knowing what your body needs is to love and listen to it My meals are glutenfree and vegan as far as possible I dont believe in depriving myself the key however is to prime your mind to automatically make healthy choices I eat dinner at sunset as this keeps my body light and active I avoid all forms of refined food and make sure to eat a good portion of nuts and seedsWellness to me is Focusing on your mental wellbeing ensures that your body is able to deliver at 100 percent efficiencyMenu mantras Spa cuisines such as salads smoothies coldpressed juices and even ragibased pizza All the dishes are made from organic local produce as far as possibleKunal KhotCofounder Protein HouseAn eatery for gym enthusiasts by gym enthusiasts was exactly what Khot and his partner Onkar Sawant had in mind while founding Protein House As an avid strength training enthusiast Khots love for protein has also trickled into the cafeacutes menu on which every preparation is infused with at least 20 to 25 g of proteinI believe Fitness is a commitment for life It must be a conscious dedicated choice to actually workMy fitness routine I train at the gym six days a week If I do happen to skip it I try to compensate with highintensity homebased workouts and callisthenic exercisesI eat I am currently following the keto diet I have tried out other diets before including the lowcarb and nocarb diet However the one mantra I truly believe in is avoiding refined and packaged foods I also recommend following the reverse pyramid in terms of planning your meals with the heaviest meal being scheduled earlier in the day and the lightest before you go to bedHerbed grilled chicken with vegetablesWellness to me is Getting enough sleep I make sure to get at least eight hours a day I believe that this is crucial to ensuring that your mind is well rested and hence focusedMenu mantras Highprotein meals that you can eat before or after workouts For me every dish on the menu must feature a balanced mix of vitamins good carbs protein and fibreCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also 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