Chef's Secret: Fitness Amidst Full-Time Food

Chef Sanjyot Keer, the popular face behind Your Food Lab, has shared his unique approach to fitness despite a career immersed in food. He realized early on that maintaining physical fitness was crucial to endure his 12-to-14-hour workdays in the kitchen, focusing on stamina over aesthetics.

Keer views food as fuel for both body and mind, emphasizing wholesome, home-cooked meals and intuitive portion control rather than strict diets. His typical day involves his first meal around 2 pm, often consisting of simple Indian dishes like dal, bhakri, and seasonal vegetables, with dinner being a balanced meal of chicken and rice with veggies.

His fitness routine includes weightlifting four times a week and outdoor walks, which he finds essential for stepping away from his studio environment. He also acknowledges the challenge of balancing work and exercise, sometimes having to skip workouts.

For mental well-being, Keer practices gratitude for his achievements and followers. He also draws calmness from chanting a Sikh mantra, a childhood ritual. When overwhelmed, he finds solace by cooking for his family, a practice he considers meditative.