Padma Lakshmi reveals the product that helps her find balance in the holiday season

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She’s an acclaimed television host, best-selling author, influential political and social activist—what can’t Padma Lakshmi do? The multi-hyphenate will admit, however, that there is no linear career path. This is especially true if you pursue your passion. She never takes her success for granted.

Lakshmi says, “I have always been interested in food. Even as a toddler I would go into my grandma or mom’s kitchen to experiment with different ingredients and make mistakes.” “But I wasn’t able to get into the food industry until 29 when I wrote my first cookbook. Even then, I was only 30. Origin stories are often not told as much because they take longer than they appear. I had to make that path myself.

Lakshmi, today’s most famous food personality, is a huge success. one of our go-tos on Instagram She is known for her unique and simple recipes that elevate the mundane. Although she has many hats she recently became an investor and brand advisor for Indian-inspired yogurt brand. Dah! Dahi (pronounced DAH-hee as dahi, the Hindi word meaning yogurt) is now added to the list. We asked her all about why this partnership was the perfect next item to add to her killer résumé and why people shouldn’t fear dairy.

Lakshmi says that the brand sent her a box of their products around two or three years back. She also receives so many food products every year that she doesn’t get to try them all and has to give it away. “But, I saw that the package was perishable so I decided to keep all the lassi they sent in my fridge.”

It turned out that the product was a big hit and Lakshmi opened her fridge the next day to find nothing of the Dah! samples. They were so loved by her young nephews that she asked if she could take them with her to the grocery store to get more. Then, after seeing that the product has more probiotics than any other yogurt on the market—a whopping 150 billion colony-forming units—and was lower in added sugar than the other drinkable yogurt options out there, Lakshmi knew the company was onto something.

“People don’t drink kefir for its taste but the health benefits it offers, but there was something that could surpass it in flavor and health-benefits,” she said. It felt like a treat and was also good for you, which appealed greatly to me. Although I don’t endorse many food products, if I don’t love it and give it to my family on a regular schedule, you won’t see me promoting them.

Lassi, an Indian yogurt drink, is a staple food in Lakshmi’s household for many years. But she also loves Dah! because of its ease-of-use and low temperature culturing methods, which allow it to keep such a large amount of good bacteria. The products are available in supermarkets across the country, including Sprouts. It is a great snack option that’s easy to grab and go, as it is high in calcium, vitamin D, and protein.

“I love drinking it, especially during the holiday season with all the cocktail parties where you’re drinking on an empty stomach and there are a bunch of fried canapés everywhere,” says Lakshmi. I like to have a 12-ounce glass in the morning before I go to an event. It helps me be more disciplined.

Lakshmi loves to cook with Dah too! Products and most recently featured it on Instagram Her Thanksgiving turkey brine recipe honors an age-old Indian tradition of tenderizing meat using a yogurt-based glaze. Dah is also a common ingredient in her cooking.Dah is also used in smoothies, curries, and popsicles. an easy pie filling Topped with fresh berries

Lakshmi states that while dairy is often criticized in the States, the brand does make other plant-based options. But, Lakshmi believes that a healthy diet should not be considered a compromise. “Dairy has a vital role in my diet, especially as dairy products are so healthy. We have yogurt in our household multiple times daily in different forms.

You can find it here Healthy EatingIf your body is able to tolerate it, we are also big fans fermented dairy. It provides probiotics to support gut health and immune health. produce anti-inflammatory effects in the bodyIt contains a variety of vitamins and minerals and provides protein to help us feel full between meals. That’s what we’ll drink!