Nitesh Kumar: I opted for a cheat day in Delhi, but still ate healthy

Paralympics gold medallist Nitesh Kumar was in Delhi recently for the Times Food and Nightlife Awards (TFNA). For him, it was a “good way to get to know the city, through its food”.
Talking about his ultimate food cravings, the shuttler says, “We usually travel year-long for tournaments, and we don’t get the same taste abroad during those tournaments. So, the thing that I crave the most is Indian food , especially north Indian food. Whenever I visit home, my mom cooks kheer for me, and dal makhani is always on the menu.”


When stepping out, Nitesh prefers to eat healthy and simple. “Though I am always training, and always following a diet, I like to explore healthier food options whenever possible. When we go out, I prefer simple food. I look for healthier non-vegetarian options. During tournaments abroad, as much as I would like to, we don’t explore the regional cuisine. We avoid taking the risk and stick to our diets.” He adds, “At TFNA, I opted to have a cheat day, but made sure I ate healthy.”

About his experience at TFNA, he says, “I am happy to be here as I got to know which restaurants are famous for dishing out the best food in Delhi. It was a good exposure for me. I usually get recommendations from family members or social media. I got to taste the food served by award winners and meet people from the culinary space”