Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

"I can't sleep if I don't eat..." Kareena Kapoor on her love for her favorite desi dish and the joy of cooking with Saif at home

etimes.in | Last updated on - May 12, 2026, 11:05 IST
Comments
Share
1/4

Importance of home-cooked food and why Kareena swears by it

Kareena Kapoor is known for her love for homemade food. From aloo ka paratha loaded with white makkhan to biryani, she is a pure Punjabi who loves her carbs. But at the same time she is also the epitome of living fit and staying in shape will eating all her favourite foods. Since her collaboration with celebrity nutritionist Rujuts Diwekar, she has been vocal about simple homecooked meals and has been loving every bit of it. According to a talk show featuring Kareena and Rujuta, she can't do without this one desi Indian dish and says, "I can't sleep if I don't eat..." Scroll down to find out.

2/4

Kareena on love for cooking with Saif

Advocating the benefits of cooking at home, Kareena says that we as a family have started loving homecooked food so much that me and Saif have also started cooking and we enjoy it. She adds, "Rujuta is quite like for the fact that cook your meal, eat at home and keep it simple, so we have also kind of made it a way of life that and somehow it reflects in our personality as a couple." When asked who is a better cook at home, Kareena affirms, "He (Saif) definitely, and I feel males make better chefs, I don't know."

3/4

Kareena's love for her favourite food

I love simple ghar ka khana and I feel like a zillion bucks and there is nothing like a homecooked food. She further states, and if you ask me my favourite comfort food, it is Dal Khichdi. She adds, "If there is no khichdi in my diet for at least 2-3 days in a week, I will crave and message Rujuta and ask why there is no khichdi, I can't sleep in the night." "I need khichdi, else I can't sleep at night. I am so comfortable with khichdi that I can eat it 5 times a week, it keeps me happy with that one dollop of ghee, and that's my dinner tonight too," she winks.

4/4

What makes Dal Khichdi a complete meal?

Dal Khichdi is often referred to as a light or recovery meal, but at the same time it is also a nutritionally balanced, wholesome dish that can stand on its own as a complete meal.
Perfect protein combination: Using rice and dal together makes for a complete protein profile, which is good for muscle repair, growth, and overall body function.
Easy to digest: It is easy to digest and is gentle on the stomach. It is proven to provide all essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and small amounts of fats, which gives energy and keeps you active.
Rich in vitamins and minerals: Khichdi is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals, if you add veggies like carrots, peas, spinach, or beans to it.
Balanced mix of macronutrients: A well-prepared khichdi is rich in carbohydrates, protein and fats. This balance helps maintain steady energy levels, prevents sudden blood sugar spikes, and keeps you full for longer.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Who is Gaurav Yadav: Meet the viral ‘NRI Chacha’ taking over Instagram with just his office lunch box
  • The body check: What your fingernails may reveal about health
  • Love quote of the day by Aristotle: "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies"
  • 'We spent ₹10 lakh for our 30-day trip in India': American couple's travel budget shocks the internet; here's where the money actually went
  • Don’t throw away potato peels: Smart ways to repurpose
  • Quote of the day by Rose Kennedy: "Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever..."
  • This is the only Jyotirlinga temple in Jharkhand and why it draws millions of pilgrims every year
  • 5 lessons of perfect marriage we all need to learn from Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough
  • 10 iconic baby names inspired by classic and modern literature
Photostories
  • The body check: What your fingernails may reveal about health
  • Sadhguru once lived with 20 cobras in his bedroom: His explanation involves energy, awareness, and the soul
  • From Delhi to Kerala: IMD forecasts rain, hail and thunderstorms across these Indian states; what travellers need to know
  • Thought of the day inspired by the Bhagavad Gita: “A peaceful mind is life’s greatest luxury”
  • What is the person who makes pizzas called?
  • 10 iconic baby names inspired by classic and modern literature
  • ​5 workouts to tone your lower body​
  • Love quote of the day by Aristotle: "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies"
  • From Sarah Jessica Parker to Jon Bon Jovi, here are all of the celebrities who flaunt their gray hair like a crown
Explore more Stories
  • 8
    How to make protein and fiber-rich Chickpea and Cucumber Sandwich for Sunday breakfast
  • 5
    Sadhguru once lived with 20 cobras in his bedroom: His explanation involves energy, awareness, and the soul
  • 4
    Thought of the day inspired by the Bhagavad Gita: “A peaceful mind is life’s greatest luxury”
  • 11
    10 iconic baby names inspired by classic and modern literature
  • 6
    Morning affirmation at 5 am: The psychology behind positive self-talk before dawn
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Food News
  • /
  • "I can't sleep if I don't eat..." Kareena Kapoor on her love for her favorite desi dish and the joy of cooking with Saif at home
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © May 31, 2026, 09.20AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service