Interview with Food Blogger Shristi Patni

We recently published a guest post by Shristi Patni – if you didn’t see it yet, make sure to check it out. It’s an amazing article that covers a rarely discussed topic – how to GAIN weight. After reading it, it sparked our interest so we decided to visit her blog F and B recipes.

Needless to say, we loved it. We were intrigued and wanted to learn more about her. In this interview, we decided to get to know her and learn more about her work.

Question: Hi Shristi! Can you tell us a bit about how you developed a passion for food and recipes?

Answer: Hello, thank you for having me here today. I was born and brought up in Indore which is the food capital of India. We pride ourselves in inventing delicacies that have today gained popularity in countries like Europe and the UK.

My Dadu (paternal grandfather) and Nani (maternal grandmother) were big fans of cooking home-made meals and eating out. I was exposed to a lot of regional cuisines since childhood and always accompanied them on their eating sprees. I believe that’s what sparked my interest in food.

Question: Speaking of smoothies, since that’s how we got to know you on Corpus Aesthetics – how many daily meals can, in your opinion, be replaced by smoothies, and which meals would that be?

Answer: Smoothies are a great way to incorporate fruits and vegetables in your diet. While some meal replacement smoothies such as Kiwi, Avocado, and Spinach Smoothie or Ginger Pumpkin Protein Smoothie are great to grab on your busy days, I recommend smoothies as something you add into your diet rather than replacing meals with them. But if you absolutely had to, I’d choose smoothies to replace breakfast.

Question: Do you have any tips or tricks, or secret ingredients, that make a smoothie perfect?

Answer: Each smoothie recipe is unique and requires a perfect blend of ingredients. I recommend using frozen fruits as they give that delicious creamy texture and also acts as a great thickener.

Question: Is there a recipe that’s currently on your blog that is your absolute favorite? If yes, would you like to share it with our readers? 

Answer: I absolutely love the Aubergine and Caramelised Onion Cracker Pizza. It gives a break from all the regular pizzas available in the market. Plus, aubergines and cottage cheese add a nice flavour to it.

Question: What is, in your opinion, the greatest challenge for the average person when it comes to eating healthy meals?

Answer: The biggest problem most people face is lack of motivation. This happens when you draw out impractical diet plans containing foods that you loathe. Initially, you convince yourself that you’ll be able to eat these foods but as time passes by, the mere sight of these items makes you lose interest. Before you know it, you’ve given up on your diet and are back to square one.

The best solution is to start by replacing a few small meals at first. For instance, switching chocolates for dry fruits and aerated drinks for juices. Once your body is used to these changes, you can slowly start replacing your lunch and dinner options.

Question: Do you have any advice for people who have no idea how to make a healthy home-made meal from scratch? Where to begin? What are some simple recipes you’d recommend?

Answer: Cooking home-made meals has gained a lot of popularity during the pandemic. There are a lot of resources available on the internet today that’ll help you understand the basics of cooking i.e. the role of spices, using a knife, etc.

If you’re just starting out, you can learn how to cook these easy, filling meals:

Sandwiches

Tacos

Pancakes

Salads

Question: You write a lot about Indian food. What cuisines of the world do you enjoy along with the cuisine of your homeland?

Answer: I love Italian and Chinese food. I can never have enough of Green asparagus and pine nuts dim sums and pasta alfredo.

Question: Going back to Indian culture – which Indian recipe would you recommend to people who didn’t try a lot of Indian food yet?

Answer: I recently wrote about 20 signature dishes you must try if you happen to be in Indore. Feel free to check it out here.

Question: You write about mental and spiritual well-being on your blog as well. In your opinion, does the food we eat affect our mental state?

Answer: Absolutely! Eating well (i.e. a well-balanced diet rich in nutrients and vegetables) is associated with feelings of wellbeing. One study conducted in 2014 found high levels of wellbeing were reported by individuals who ate more fruits and vegetables. 

While it’s okay to eat fast foods once in a while, I suggest eating healthy meals as this helps reduce mood fluctuations, combat depression and anxiety among other things.

Question: Do you have any final words? 🙂

Answer: Educate yourself and be aware of what you’re consuming. Try different cuisines and find out what works for you and what doesn’t!

Thank you for this interview Shristi! We’re very happy to have featured you on Corpus Aesthetics and we wish you a lot of success with F and B recipes.