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No Filter- Dine like a star: Salads that won hearts of the city’s glam world
Have you ever wondered about what keeps the glamourous in Chennai in such fabulous shape?
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Exercise is the first that comes to one’s mind, of course, but surprisingly, it is because they don’t crash diet and instead prefer healthy salads and meals. I don’t know about you, but whenever someone mentions healthy food, I have found that it isn’t usually always yummy. This has been my complaint with salads, in general.
What makes a good salad is the dressing and all salad dressings are certainly not the same. For the longest time, I have heard whispers from the fit and fabulous about Minal Kripalani’s yummy salads and I decided to investigate. Let me tell you that Cary and I are officially converted to salad lovers.
Surprising you with a different salad each day, ‘Lean on Me’ by Minal is delivering salads to homes and offices thrice a week. Can I also tell you that they are extremely punctual with their deliveries, which is a rarity in food business? The Bhel salad is legendary and sometimes we all drop not-so-subtle hints when we bump into Minal at parties about wanting more of it.
Minal, one of the OG home bakers from the city, started Lean On Me less than a year ago, which has become a smashing hit. From the fittest mommies to models to film stars, everyone is loving her salads, expanding her customer base purely based on great reviews and word of mouth.
Minal is hoping to be able to cater to more locations by the end of the year. She has also started delivering meals for dinner five times a week, helping people eat healthy, in controlled portions and also healthy. What began as a lifestyle change that she was chronicling on Instagram, resulted in several requests from friends to replicate her delicious meals for them. Today, she preps and delivers these salads with a lot of love and you can tell that they are made by the foodie herself. It is not easy to live your life like a superstar, but these salads are surely a great place to start.
Walking the talk on sustainability
Sustainability is part of conversations that everyone is having these days, but there are some at the forefront, working towards achieving it. Vikram Mohan of Bounce Salons is someone who has always walked the talk. Recently, Bounce launched one of the first eco-friendly salons in the country at OMR in Chennai. Aren’t we proud that Chennaiites are leading the way when it comes to important matters? You may be wondering what you can do towards sustainability — it is by pledging support to such ventures that are standing by it.
Vikram tells me that 70 per cent of the salon operates on solar power and more than 70 per cent of its interiors are made from recycled and upcycled products. Let me tell you that the interiors are sure to please your eyes. Also, look out for design elements that are made out of reclaimed railway track wood. If you think that’s amazing, there is more, the water from your luxurious hair washes is recycled. Even the towels used to dry your hair are bio-degradable in six weeks. I wonder why we aren’t all using these towels.
However, my favourite element is their green wall with air purifying plants. So, now when I’m getting a blow-dry, I’m no longer just smelling hairspray, but it feels like I’m out in the open with lush greenery around me. The group has pledged to incorporate these practices in their other salons as well. Vikram is calling it the ‘We care’ movement and is challenging others to try to use ethically sourced products to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Ralph Marston once said, ‘what you do today can improve all your tomorrows’. Vikram and his venture have a head start on all of us. It’s about time the rest of us played catch up.
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