Neeraj Chopra opens up about his dietary habits: ‘I think there is no harm in eating gol gappas’ | Food-wine News
Neeraj Chopra has once again made India proud by winning the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championship 2023 in Budapest. The Javelin thrower first gained limelight by clinching a gold medal during the prestigious Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
But it’s not only his remarkable performance on-field that has captured everyone’s attention, it is also his off-field life, including his dietary habits and fitness regimen that has made us equally intrigued. As such, in a recently surfaced interview with ESPN, Neeraj Chopra delves into his eating habits and culinary choices.
Explaining his fondness for ‘gol gappas‘, a popular street food in India, he says that gol gappas are his go-to fast food choice as it is safe for athletic fitness. “I think there is no harm in eating gol gappas. It’s mostly water and most of your stomach gets filled with water. The papri is quite big but the amount of flour is very little. It’s mostly water that’s going inside you. There is some amount of spice but that’s another matter.”
He also compares the flour quantity in gol gappas to that of a couple of rotis, suggesting that it’s acceptable for athletes to have a few gol gappas once in a while.
Most Read
However, during tournaments, Neeraj Chopra’s focus shifts to healthier options. “On match days, I don’t like to eat anything that’s too fatty. I prefer eating things like salads or fruits. I also like to eat things like grilled chicken breast and eggs,” he says.
On the other hand, Neeraj Chopra’s food staple is relatively simple — a combination of bread and omelette. “I can eat bread and omelette any time of the week. I probably eat that more often than anything,” he reveals.
Much like the rest of us, the star athlete does not mind indulging in sweets, especially on his cheat days. While he usually avoids consuming sugary treats, his victory celebrations definitely call for something sweet. His preference for such special occasions is none other than the homemade churma (crushed roti with sugar and ghee). “If after I win, I want to have a cheat meal, I’ll usually eat something sweet. I usually restrict the amount of sweets I eat normally, so when I get the chance to have a cheat meal, I’ll usually eat a lot of sweets. I don’t even care what kind of sweets they are. What I really like is fresh homemade churma,” he says.
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!