Our relationship with food is one of the longest we will have. And like any healthy relationship, it needs attention, honesty and balance. Food holds us, feeds our daily lives and brings joy, but can also complicate. Non -healthy eating habits and rigid diet rules can lead to stress, guilt and preventable diseases.
Fixing the way we think about food can change our lives for the better. In her best -selling book, the power of imperfect food, the Food Scientist, Dr. Kavita Bhatnagar, shares real -life stories that reflect the emotional, complex, often imperfect bond that we all have with food. Through these narratives, we encourage us to rethink not only what we eat, but also how food fits into our daily lives.
In an interview with NDTV, Dr. Bhatnagar talks about changing our mentality, not for a quick fixing diet, but for a long -term approach that really works.
NDTV interview extracts with Dr. Kavita Bhatnagar:
1. Why is a perfect diet no longer the goal?
Chasing a “perfect” diet often does more damage than good. Create pressure, guilt and fear of failure, which can be trapped, waiting for the right time, the right plan and the perfect conditions before it even begins.
This mentality of all or nothing means that you follow the so -called ‘plan’ without problems or give yourself completely. And even if you start, a false step can make you feel that you need to start from scratch. When he continues to press the restart, he loses progress in the search for perfection.
The real and lasting change comes from consistency, not perfection. A more flexible approach, where it allows space for real life, helps build habits that really adhere. In the long run, the best diet is not perfect; It is the one you can hold.
2. What does “imperfect food” mean?
Imperfect food is about neglecting the idea that there is a correct way to eat. Even if there was a perfect diet, it would not be worth stress, stiffness and loss joy in food.
A perfect diet demands a strict discipline, turning food into a set of rules instead of something to enjoy. Create an exhausting cycle of excessive control, guilt and correction, where the fear of sliding becomes a problem greater than the sliding itself.
On the other hand, imperfect food recognizes that although not all meals will be ideal, the options can still be intentional.
- Imperfect meaningless feed occurs in the boredom of the autopilot by boredom, ordering additional food just because it is there, or eating without noticing signs of hunger.
- Intentional imperfect food means making conscious decisions, even when they are not perfect while remaining aware of balance and well -being.
For example, if you get home exhausted and ask for a hamburger because cooking is not an option:
- Food without meaning: you add fried potatoes, tail and desserts by habit, turning a need into indulgence.
- Intentional food: you enjoy hamburger and combine it with a simple homemade salad to balance.
Imperfect feeding is flexibility, adaptability and progress, not rules and restrictions. Some days will be more balanced than others, and that’s fine. What matters is the biggest image.
More importantly, imperfect food is not about reducing standards, it is about creating a way of eating that is nutritious and sustainable.
Photo: Istock
3. Why did you use stories and stories in your book? How does it help? Can you share an example?
Because knowledge is not the problem, behavior is. We do not lack information; We fight to apply it. The facts alone do not change the behavior, but the emotions do.
I didn’t want to preach or prescribe. Instead, I wanted to offer a perspective, so that people could see their own struggles in stories and feel understood, not judged.
Stories make the change feel possible. They help us connect, reflect and question without resistance.
For example, in my book, Amit, a new father, says he no longer has time for hobbies, even for the gym. Rakshit, another character, feels guilty to feed his daughter. These are not abstract health debates; They are real -life experiences. And when we see our own struggles in others, change feels more feasible, not overwhelming.
Because the stories not only tell us what to do, they show us why it matters.
4. Will food behavior be fixed only for those overweight?
You are welcome. Food behavior is not just about weight, it is health, energy and our general relationship with food.
People often assume that only those fighting with weight need to rethink their eating habits, but food affects everyone. Whether to handle stress, improve digestion or simply enjoy meals without thinking too much, understanding how we eat is for everyone.
5. How do we adjust our diet as life changes: new jobs, cities in motion, marriage, ruptures, etc.?
The most important? Leave aside the habits that no longer serve you. We evolve, so our food approach should also evolve.
You overcome friendships, jobs and even old mentalities. Why wouldn’t they change their eating habits too?
Maybe when you were in a shelter, instant noodles were a basic element. Or at some point, Vada Pav was the most affordable lunch option. Of course, there is nostalgia. But as life progresses, things change: their metabolism, their nutritional knowledge, their financial situation.
An evolving diet grows with you, does not catch you in old patterns. The goal is not to eat in the way you ever did, but eat in a way that serves who you are today.
Photo: Istock
6. What are your golden rules to dominate “imperfect food”?
Imperfect food is not about following rigid rules. It is about making decisions that fit your changing life, health and priorities. Some guiding principles:
- Adapt as your body and lifestyle change
What worked for his 20-year-old omitted breakfast and running with caffeine-might leaves you drained in your 40. If your energy levels change, your diet should also.
- Let obsolete food habits
The fact that something worked before does not mean that it serves you now. Eating outside could have been necessary once, but now the simple homemade meals could be better for you.
- Balance nostalgia with food
The food is emotional. If Vada Pav ever was his option, he does not have to give up, but he can enjoy it occasionally while he makes his daily meals dense in nutrients.
- Prioritize consistency over perfection
A healthy diet is not a good or bad food, these are patterns over time. Indulgence will not undo progress, just like a salad will not change your health.
- Be intentional, not meaningless
Eat imperfectly, just make it aware. Meaningless food leaves you dissatisfied, while intentional elections allow indulgence without losing your balance.
7. How does it help us to navigate food options?
Guilt and fear can make us want to eat well, but do not build lasting habits. Guilt feeds stress and stress throws our physical and emotionally balance.
Compassion, on the other hand, allows us to make decisions of a place of attention instead of control. It helps us see food as food, not a will of willpower. When we replace guilt with conscience and self -confidence, eating becomes liberating instead of promoting fear, which makes a balance really sustainable.
In essence, imperfect food is about freedom: the freedom to eat in a way that feels good to your life and evolves with you. The key is to adapt instead of resisting change.
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