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Mood Food, Refrigerated: How The Contents Of Our Fridge Reveal Our Cravings

Chefs, actors, and lifestyle influencers share what they instinctively reach out for when they’re in need of a feel-good fix.

| Isha Mayer
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Food and wellness are often reduced to the idea of eating clean or maintaining a perfectly balanced diet. And while that’s true in theory, in practice, most of us simply want to come home after a long day and reach for something that boosts our mood – something warm, familiar, indulgent, or reassuring.

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A refrigerator, then, is far more than a storage unit. It’s a small, revealing portrait of who we are. From leftover dal to fancy butter, from pickles to chocolate, our fridges mirror our habits, cravings, and the little rituals that help us feel grounded. After all, the things we instinctively grab at the end of a chaotic day often say more about our well-being than any meal plan ever could. Chefs, creators, and actors opened up to us about their feel-good fridge. 

Guntas Sethi, Chef, Recipe Developer, and EU Food Ambassador in India

For Chef Sethi, a feel-good fridge is one that’s stocked to take care of all her cravings and moods. “With meal-prepped boxes to keep me from bingeing when hunger strikes, berries packed with antioxidants, dates and chocolate for my sweet tooth, and of course, some good cheese to throw together a quick platter when guests drop by.” 

Guntas’ Feel-Good Essentials:

  • There’s always butter because fat is flavour and it instantly elevates any dish. 

  • Eggs and leftover veggies are my saviours for a quick whip-up, while avocados are a must for that last-minute toast.

  • Frozen masalas in ice cube trays for fuss-free, flavour-packed meals

  • A few different chicken marinades are ready to go, perfect for days when I want something delicious without the effort.

Shivesh Bhatia, Chef, Baker, and Content Creator

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“A feel-good fridge is a small, honest archive of your life, a mix of practical staples and tiny luxuries,” Bhatia shares. “It’s that space where you’ll find leftover dessert from recipe testing, sitting next to a jar of homemade jam, maybe some fruit that I snack on while editing, and butter that’s always ready for a spontaneous bake. It’s not about strict meal plans or clean eating, but about balance, having things that make you feel nourished and happy on both good and chaotic days.”

Shivesh’s Feel-Good Essentials:

  • Protein Greek yogurt – spoonable, cooling, and endlessly useful. I use it for my breakfast, bakes, and much more.

  • A slice of leftover cake or dessert – the easiest joy: it’s proof of a good day in the kitchen and tastes better the next day.

  • Chocolate bars – for an instant mood lift that’s small but effective.

  • A jar of jalapeños – the savoury counterpoint that adds a kick to almost everything I eat, and the brine of which goes into my Diet Coke.

  • Chilli oils – an extra kick of spice and garlicky flavour never hurt anybody. I always keep 2-3 varieties of chilli oils in my fridge. 

  • Fruits – from blueberries to apples and oranges, I keep them all stocked up for my recipes.

Ayush Mehra, Actor  

“My fridge is where discipline and desire live side by side. Chicken next to chocolate, protein beside peanut butter. It’s my kind of wellness… equal parts comfort and chaos,” shares the actor. 

Ayush’s Feel-Good Essentials:

  • Eggs: the unsung heroes of every mood.

  • Grilled chicken: my longest-running commitment.

  • Greek yogurt & peanut butter: the power couple.

  • Bananas & papaya: the sunshine squad.

  • Cold brew & coconut water: caffeine meets calm.

  • Protein bars: my sweet little self-deception.

  • Dark chocolate: proof that self-care melts, not measures.

Rida Tharana, Lifestyle Creator 

“For me, a feel-good fridge is when it’s late at night, I’m hungry, and I open it to find something I can quickly eat to kill the hunger,” shares Tharana. “It doesn’t have to be fancy, but since I’m trying to be a little more mindful about what goes into my body lately, a feel-good fridge for me would have things like cut veggies, fruits, or something on the healthier side.”

Rida’s Feel-Good Essentials:

The influencer likes to make dates stuffed with cream cheese and almonds, coated with dark chocolate. “It’s such a quick indulgence. Plus, it’s something I make myself, so it brings me extra joy!”

Aisha Ahmed, Actor

“A feel-good fridge for me is a non-cluttered fridge –wow, I feel old!,” shares the actor. “But definitely something that smells fresh and doesn’t have food stored in plastic.”

Aisha’s Feel-Good Essential:

One thing you’ll always find in her fridge? Chocolate! “A little sweet treat for every mood,” she adds. 

In the end, the feel-good fridge isn’t really about what’s inside but what it says about us. From midnight cravings to childhood comfort, from celebratory treats to quick fixes that get us through the week, these little rituals remind us that joy often lives in the simplest corners of our kitchens. And sometimes, opening the fridge is less about food and more about finding a moment of comfort.

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