Many shades of Shilpa Shetty

The actress talks about how planning her family’s meals stresses her out and, of course, yoga

Shilpa Shetty has come a long way from her debut in Baazigar. The multi-tasking actress dons several hats — author, reality show judge, businesswoman, yoga enthusiast and dedicated homemaker — and continues to look gorgeous at 41. Here are her mantras.

On being healthy “My experiences have taught me a lot about nutrition. If you are healthy from inside, you will surely look beautiful,” she says.

Advice to Mothers Shilpa confesses that she became serious about being healthy only after becoming a mother. She says, “My advice to mothers is to mostly cook food at home. And do set some time aside for the kids. My son, Viaan, is aware that junk and tinned foods are not good for health. He also refuses to drink aerated drinks. Children should be eating at the right time, in the right amount.”

Shilpa, the homemaker “My husband is a vegetarian and I am a pescetarian (eat only fish). I chalk out a daily menu and prepare meals for both my husband and son. Giving them the right food every day stresses me out sometimes. But I manage quite well because I am not a late night-party animal. I also have to send my son to school on time. So, I divide my time between work and home,” she says.

Her first love Shilpa confesses that yoga is her first love. She says, “Raj (husband) feels I do a little too much of yoga. He does his cardio exercises at the gym. He is not inclined towards yoga. Since we are part of the glamorous world, we are under a lot of stress. Chanting mantras keeps me free from these worries.” She adds, “My son knows how to do pranayama.”

Her New book Shilpa’s new book will have many healthy recipes and will include her favourite Mangalorean recipe ‘Tote curry’, made with red pumpkin.