For a world-class athlete, the right diet is essential for maintaining peak fitness, and Virat Kohli has been highly conscious of his nutrition since the early 2010s. However, he is known to indulge in cheat meals occasionally, especially when in Delhi.
Making his return to domestic cricket after 12 years in the ongoing Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match, Kohli grabbed attention not just on the field but off it as well. DDCA chef Sanjay Jha revealed in an interview that Kohli opted for canteen food over luxury dining and enjoyed chilli paneer during lunch.
This, however, left some fans puzzled. There has been a misconception that Virat Kohli adopted a vegan diet, which excludes not only meat but also dairy and poultry products. Since paneer is a dairy product, his choice of meal has sparked curiosity about his dietary preferences.
Virat Kohli is Ovo-lacto Vegetarian
Growing up, Virat Kohli was a non-vegetarian, with butter chicken being one of his favorite dishes. However, due to health concerns, he had to give up non-vegetarian food. In an interview, Kohli revealed that he was struggling with cervical spine issues and his non-veg diet led to high uric acid levels in his body.
As per some sources, he turned vegan in 2018—but only for a short period. By 2019, he switched to a vegetarian diet, which included dairy products. In 2021, during an Instagram Q&A session, Kohli mentioned that he consumes eggs, which led to fans trolling him for previously calling himself a vegan.
In response, Kohli had clarified that he had never claimed to be vegan and that he follows a vegetarian diet. “I never claimed to be vegan. Always maintained I’m vegetarian. Take a deep breath and eat your Veggies (if you want),” tweeted Virat Kohli in 2021.
I never claimed to be vegan. Always maintained I'm vegetarian. Take a deep breath and eat your Veggies (if you want 😉)💪😂✌️
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 1, 2021
Although Virat Kohli consumes eggs, he cannot fully claim to be a vegetarian. In this case, he falls under the ovo-lacto vegetarian category, which includes people who consume plant-based foods, dairy products, and eggs, but do not eat meat.
