Sapna | Ayurvedic Culinary Wellness, Dietitian

Received the official seal from @beardfoundation and seeing it on 🧿 Dal Chawal 🧿 is deeply humbling. Truly a moment of Desi pride. Here’s to bringing Ghar ka Khana front and center and celebrating the eternal love story of pulses and rice beloved in every Indian home. If Dal Chawal has found a home in your kitchen, if a recipe made you call your mom, if a chapter made you slow down, if the book has earned a spot on your shelf or in someone’s hands as a gift, would you leave a review? PLEASE join me in making some noise for this one… Reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, or Goodreads carry real weight. If you have left a review on one platform (thank you), perhaps leave another one on a different platform. They help this book reach the readers who need it most: the home cook learning dal for the first time, the second-gen kid searching for their grandmother’s flavors, the seasoned cook familiar with Indian recipes but seeking the Ayurvedic lens to cook with deeper intention and adapt seasonally, the single parent cooking on a tight budget, the curious eater looking to add more meatless meals to their table. The winners will be announced at the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, on Saturday, June 13. Stay tuned for more updates and wish me luck! ✨ #DalChawal #JamesBeardAwards2026 #BeSpiced #GharKaKhana

Tested this trend and yep — it understood the assignment! Many avatars. One mission. Nearly three decades in food and wellness, and I still wake up grateful I get to live my dharma, do my karma, and sprinkle masala on the world every single day! If you’re looking for plant-forward nutrition, culinary wellness programs, Ayurvedic-inspired cooking, meaningful corporate partnerships, or thoughtfully crafted spice products — you’re in the right place. Good food and good ideas are always better together. Whether you’re an individual, a brand, a company, or a community ready to bring more flavor and intention to the table, I’d love to connect. My door — and my spice box — are always open! #IndianAmericanDietitian #CulinaryWellness #WomeninFood #PlantForward #AyurvedicCooking

“Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, toh poori kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.” If you truly desire something from the heart, the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it. OMG… Bucket list moment 💫 Hand-delivering the finished copy of Dal Chawal to @vikaskhannagroup was one of my deepest desires—fulfilled in the most magical way. Chef Vikas Khanna has been a guiding light for me for years—not just for his culinary genius, but for the heart, humility, and grace with which he represents Indian food to the world. He has supported this book and stood by my work from the very beginning, through his generous endorsement that is now a cherished part of Dal Chawal, and of this journey. To hand him the book, in the warmth of his beautiful @bungalowny was a full-circle moment I’ll always hold close. In true Chef Vikas fashion, he turned it into something unforgettable—inviting me to walk through the courtyard and unveil Dal Chawal in front of a full room. I was stunned, honored, and completely overwhelmed—in the best way. In the middle of a packed service, he carved out a heartfelt pause to celebrate the book and graciously welcomed it into his treasured cookbook library. Everything about the evening—from the generosity of that gesture to the thoughtful food and warm hospitality—reflected the soul of the space he has created. As a first-time author, I couldn’t have imagined a more meaningful way to mark this milestone. Chef, thank you for making space for this moment—for me, for my story, and for the love I poured into every page. Dal Chawal, from my heart to yours - to every Desi, with love and pride 🙏🏽💛 #DalChawalCookbook #BucketListMoment #VikasKhanna #BungalowNYC #IndianCookbook #CookbookDebut #DalChawalLove #DreamsDoComeTrue #OmShantiOm #ShahRukhKhanQuote #NYCMoments #StoriesThatNourish #GratefulHeart #HeartFull

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to be part at the first-ever ‘Food is Life, Food is Health’ conference at the Culinary Institute of America🇺🇸🙌 It was inspiring to reconnect with so many champions in this space and heard conversations around fermentation, pulses, and the powerful connection between our food choices and the health of both people and planet. My biggest reflection - 💡🌍 We can no longer treat people and planetary health as separate conversations. Our futures depend on building a food system where food is health. Because food is life. Collective action is how we can truly make progress. 🌟 A huge thank you to @theculinaryinstituteofamerica and @stanford.med for the opportunity to moderate an incredible panel of speakers, and for bringing together such a powerful community committed to driving change.👏 #GoodFood4All #SDG2

Good Things Take Time. That message followed me all through Napa last week. Still processing the magic of the inaugural Food is Life, Food is Health Summit hosted by @stanford.med and @theculinaryinstituteofamerica ✨ A room filled with chefs, physicians, dietitians, researchers, sustainability leaders, educators, and food systems leaders from across the country, all coming together around one shared belief: that the future of personal and planetary health depends on how we grow, cook, share, and understand food. I had the honor of leading a sold out kitchen session centered around Indian culinary traditions, pulses, spices, plant diversity, and practical nourishment. The conversations that followed throughout the week were the real gift. So many meaningful connections, thoughtful exchanges, shared meals, and people doing deeply inspiring work across healthcare, food systems, education, and media. Huge gratitude to @rootedfood - Kristen Rasmussen, RD extraordinaire, who along with the incredible leadership team including @cgardnerphd , @robertevansjones @abbyfammartino , and others, shaped such a thoughtful and deeply collaborative gathering. You could feel the care, intention, and warmth behind every detail and every conversation. It was also deeply meaningful to be part of conversations around culturally relevant health and culinary communication alongside @breanakilleen and @michelnischan , moderated by @paulnewnham 🫶🏽 And the author signing? Completely overwhelming in the best possible way. We sold Dal Chawal way more than one book a minute during the one hour signing session. I still cannot believe how many people showed up with such genuine enthusiasm for Dal Chawal and the power of rooted food traditions. The morning the summit began, I received the surreal news that Dal Chawal had been nominated for a 2026 James Beard Award. The universe has a way with timing. It truly could not have picked a more meaningful place for me to receive this news. I spent the entire week surrounded by warmth, generosity, encouragement, and people who made me feel deeply seen in this work. Still taking it all in. 🌿 #beSPICED #FoodIsLifeFoodIsHealth #DalChawal

My Circle 🧿 My Hearts 🧿 Happy Mothers Day! 💫🫶🏽 📸 @mamta_kalambe @tellatalestudios

2026 James Beard Award Nominee Vegetable-Focused Category ✨🧿 Dal Chawal ✨🧿 Dal Chawal is an emotion for billions of Indians around the world. It is the bowl that raises us, the one we return to in joy and in grief, the meal that holds the love of every mother and grandmother who came before us, the one that tastes like every kitchen we have ever loved. To carry this humble bowl to a national stage, and to see it celebrated here, is such a special honor of my life. So grateful to the @beardfoundation for recognizing this work, and to the entire @hardiegrantusa team for trusting Dal Chawal from our very first conversation. To @sallyekus , for walking with me through every step. And to every friend, colleague, reader, and most of all my family and my kids, who have cheered me on through this journey, your belief is woven into these pages. Such an emotional and surreal day. Didn’t think Chicago was part of my travel plans this year. ✨

We are thrilled to share that Dal Chawal by @be.spiced and Thai by @nattywolf have been nominated for James Beard Awards! Dal Chawal: 85 Vegetarian Indian Recipes Combining the Power of Dal and Rice is author Sapna Punjabi's love letter to traditional Indian home cooking, with recipes that are economical, healthy, and delicious. In Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere, author Nat Thaipun invites readers to explore, experiment, and fall in love with Thai cuisine. This vibrant and delicious collection of recipes brings Thai food to home kitchens everywhere with an approachable twist. Congratulations to our incredible authors!

Happy Earth Day 🌎 Food + Planet in collaboration with Today’s Dietitian, invites U.S.-based Registered Dietitians, Dietetic Technicians, and Dietetic Students to participate in the fourth annual Sustainability and Food Insights Dietitian Survey, launching on Earth Day and running April 21 - May 5, 2026. Your insights are invaluable. This short survey explores how nutrition professionals engage with sustainable food systems, including knowledge, attitudes, practices, and training needs. By participating, you’ll help us track progress, highlight emerging gaps, and shape future resources and education that support dietitians in this critical area. At the end of the survey, you may provide your email address to enter a raffle for a $150 prize package: a signed copy of DAL CHAWAL by Sapna Punjabi and Brooklyn Delhi’s Best of Brooklyn Delhi Gift Box, packed with their top sauces and curries.* @todaysdietitianmagazine @be.spiced @brooklyndelhi

Heading to the west coast this May!! I will be speaking at the inaugural 2026 Food is Life, Food is Health Summit at the @theculinaryinstituteofamerica with two sessions rooted in culture, cooking, and health. The Antioxidant Kitchen: Global Ingredients and Culinary Techniques for Vitality - A hands-on kitchen session grounded in Indian cooking, featuring recipes from Dal Chawal. We will explore pulses, spices, and everyday techniques to build flavor, reduce reliance on ultra processed ingredients, and bring more plant diversity to the plate. With @laurenchandlercooks moderating. On Camera and In Context: Mastering Culturally Relevant Health and Culinary Communications A deep dive into culturally relevant storytelling and how we communicate food and health with clarity, credibility, and cultural integrity. Alongside @breanakilleen and Michel Nischan, moderated by @paulnewnham Registration closes soon. If you are planning to attend, now is the time to sign up at: / Hope to see you there. #foodislifefoodishealth #ciaflfh

Such a joy filled evening at @birdsbookstore and a beautiful way to mark one year of Dal Chawal. An intimate setting, a deeply engaged group, and a conversation that felt easy and real. Thank you, @bg_reinhart for diving deeper into the book and my journey, and for asking such thoughtful questions. It truly turned into a lovely conversation. Birds is a true gem for our city. There’s an immediate warmth the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with smiles, and those deep wooden shelves invite you to slow down and stay awhile. Thank you for celebrating authors and books in such a meaningful way. Grateful for everyone who showed up and shared the evening with me. If you cook from the book, please tag me, I love seeing your Dal Chawal moments come to life. And if the book has found a place in your kitchen, I would be so grateful if you left a little love in the form of a review online 💗

It was so wonderful to be back in the @nbctexastoday studios to chat with the gracious @hellocleo.tv all things #DalChawal The segment aired today, on the one year anniversary of the book, which made it even more special. Dal Chawal has always been about making plant forward eating practical, affordable, and meaningful. A reminder that the most humble foods often carry the deepest wisdom. So grateful to the entire NBC Texas Today team for their warmth and care. #DalChawalCookbook #IndianVegetarian #FoodisMedicine