Habit 1: Eat Local and Traditional
One of the most consistent messages from Rujuta Diwekar is to embrace the food of your culture and region. This means prioritising local, seasonal produce over imported, fashionable superfoods. She often advises including traditional foods like root vegetables
(arbi, suran, sweet potato) in your diet multiple times a week. These vegetables are not only economical but also packed with antioxidants and act as prebiotics, which are essential for good gut health. Similarly, she champions traditional grains like bajra (pearl millet) and staple combinations like dal and rice. This approach moves the focus away from counting calories and towards appreciating the nutritional wisdom passed down through generations, ensuring your diet is both culturally relevant and environmentally sustainable. By eating what our grandparents ate, we nourish our bodies in a way that is genetically familiar and easy to digest.
Habit 2: Move Consistently, Not Aggressively
Diwekar’s approach to exercise is about consistency and enjoyment, not punishment. She recommends aiming for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, or about three hours per week. This doesn't have to be an intense, gym-only activity. The goal is to integrate movement into your daily life. One of her simple yet powerful suggestions is a gentle 10-minute stroll after dinner. Known traditionally in India as 'Shata Pavli', this light walk aids digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, reduces bloating, and promotes better sleep. She emphasizes that this should be a slow, relaxing walk, not a brisk power walk. The idea is to calm the system down, not rev it up before bed. This small, daily habit can have a significant long-term impact on digestive health and overall well-being.
Habit 3: Build a Healthy Relationship with Food and Rest
Diwekar consistently advises against the 'all or nothing' mentality that fuels yo-yo dieting. She encourages a mindset of love and nurturing, not deprivation. A key part of this is rejecting the idea of 'weight loss goals' and instead committing to healthy habits, with weight loss being a natural byproduct. This includes incorporating healthy fats like ghee into every meal to aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and break down stubborn fat. Equally important is the relationship with rest and technology. Diwekar strongly recommends staying away from all screens for at least 30 minutes before bed and 30 minutes after waking up. This digital discipline allows the mind to unwind, process emotions, and sync with the body's natural circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep quality and improved mental clarity throughout the day.
