Boiled rice & dal: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s diet is surprisingly relatable

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the diet of elite athletes? Exquisite, high-quality proteins like wild-caught salmon or Wagyu meat, imported premium natural spring water, exotic superfoods, and expensive supplements.

Well, all these are true, but some athletes eat like any ordinary individual. India’s women’s T20 cricket captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, fuels her body for world-class performance with simple meals that you can find in any ordinary Indian kitchen. She does not follow fancy fad diets to stay at the peak of athletic excellence. Rather, this athlete relies on meals that she has grown up eating.

Light meals on a match day

Harmanpreet’s nutritional philosophy is simple: she focuses on quality rather than complexity.

On a match day, you will find her eating a simple meal like boiled rice, dal, and lots of vegetables.“I like to eat light before all games, or else you can feel bloated quite easily, and it will affect your natural rhythm and running. When playing in India, I usually go for boiled rice, dal, and whatever vegetarian starters there are,” she told ESPN earlier.Once the cricketer wraps up the game, she indulges in a heavy meal.

In her own words, it would be a “nice balance of proteins and carbs, to make up for lost calories”.This approach is remarkable because of its simplicity. These whole foods fuel her and are also easily accessible. She prefers to deliver essential nutrients into her body via food, instead of depending on expensive supplements.

Dal is her favourite food

Dal is her favourite comfort food. Deeply rooted in her culture, Harmanpreet has grown up on home-cooked meals, and a simple bowl of dal remains something she truly enjoys.

“Dal, or anything gravy-based. But dal of any kind is a perennial favourite. I can have it pretty much every day of the week, and once I spot dal on my plate, my meal is complete,” she told the network earlier. Her parents are vegetarians, so growing up, dal has been a quintessential part of their everyday meals.

She and her brother also enjoyed having non-vegetarian food. “My brother and I eat non-vegetarian food only when we eat out.

In general, we all eat quite light. The dal that’s cooked at home is unmatchable, so that would be my pick for the best dish from the Bhullar household,” the athlete recalled.

Protein bars, snacks, and sweets

Being an athlete doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on things you genuinely enjoy, especially food. Her post-workout snack is usually a balanced meal. It’s either an egg-based or a plant-based protein option. While travelling, she keeps some energy bars handy for a quick boost. Occasionally, the cricketer also indulges in sweet treats. “I am a sucker for barfi and milk cake.”Harmanpreet Kaur’s diet is proof that a diet does not necessarily have to be sophisticated to be effective. Simple home-cooked meals can do just the job. Rather than being hell-bent on extreme diets or strict restrictions, she follows eating habits that are balanced and sustainable.