One of Kapur’s strongest beliefs is that food itself should never be demonised. “No food is inherently unhealthy,” he says firmly. “We often label something unhealthy just because it contains ghee or butter. But every food provides nutrition — that’s its purpose.”
At a time when social media is flooded with food reels, quick-fix diet advice and ever-changing lists of what is “good” or “bad” to eat, celebrity chef Kunal Kapur offers a grounded, reassuring perspective: no food is inherently unhealthy.
Returning to television screens with the new season of MasterChef India, Kapur believes that the biggest problem with today’s food culture is confusion rather than excess. With endless posts declaring one ingredient a superfood and another a health hazard, people are often left second-guessing their everyday meals.
“Everyone is consuming social media at a very rapid pace and continuously,” Kapur says. “Food is one of those verticals that constantly appears on your feed. One day something is healthy, the next day it’s declared harmful. Some of these claims may be true, but many cannot really be vouched for.”
For Kapur, the idea of healthy eating goes far beyond ingredients or calorie counts. He stresses that food cannot be judged in isolation. “Health is not just a function of what you eat,” he explains. “It also depends on how you eat, how you cook your food, when you eat it, and in what quantity.”
He also highlights a factor that is often ignored in online food advice: individual body types. What works well for one person may not suit another. “Your body type may be better suited for certain dishes. Eating the same food as someone with a very different body type may not always be ideal,” he notes.
One of Kapur’s strongest beliefs is that food itself should never be demonised. “No food is inherently unhealthy,” he says firmly. “We often label something unhealthy just because it contains ghee or butter. But every food provides nutrition — that’s its purpose.”
According to him, it is lifestyle, not food, that usually creates health problems. “If we have a sedentary lifestyle, don’t move enough and don’t burn calories, then calorie-dense foods may not work in our favour,” Kapur explains. “The issue isn’t the food; it’s how we live.”
Rather than rejecting social media food trends altogether, Kapur encourages a balanced approach. He believes experimentation is healthy — as long as people listen to their own bodies. “Try the recipes you see online,” he suggests. “But judge for yourself whether they actually suit you.”
His advice is simple and practical: unless there is a medical condition that restricts certain foods, most things can be enjoyed without guilt. “You have to burn what you eat,” Kapur says. “That equation is key to healthy living.”
As MasterChef India returns on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony Liv, Kapur’s philosophy serves as a reminder that food should be a source of nourishment and joy — not anxiety driven by scrolling feeds.
