15 Questions
Kiran sat down for an interview with blogger Maggie Rose from the CosmoBoho to dish about her philosophies, challenges, life and passions.
1. Where is your happy place?
I am happiest when sitting near a body of flowing water, like the bank of a river or the shore of a beach.
2. What is the most important part of your daily routine?
After my morning bathroom routine, the most important part of my day is giving gratitude. Journaling, prayers, meditation, speaking with and listening to my Creator is a must for me to start my day.
3. What is in your fridge right now?
Haha! As my husband likes to say: “cabbage, kale, and cauliflower,” and he’s right.
4. What is your go-to feel-good song?
Love Ah De Music, by Kes The Band (my favourite band). This is a joyful happy song, which makes you come alive! But it also has a deep meaning, to have faith in your abilities despite what others might say to you. The words encourage you to understand that only you can be you, and to know that you were blessed with a gift to share with the world, go forward and share it. The first time I heard that song I listened to it for 72 hours straight and cried endless tears of release and joy. It brought me through a period of doubt to help me realize the gifts I've been blessed with.
5. What’s your favourite colour and why?
I’ve got 2 actually, blue and purple, and they vie for my attention equally. I have always been attracted to blue ever since I was a little girl, it has always brought me a sense of calmness. Only recently did I learn that blue represents boundlessness, inspiration, sincerity, faith and wisdom. And while my life has always been centered around spirituality, I had no idea that purple represents spiritual awakening, the third eye, nurturing, dreams and oneness with the Infinite. I believe it is no coincidence that these are my two favourite colours, as they represent much of what is important to me in life and who I am at my core.
5. What is the best book you have ever read?
Oh good Lord!! What a difficult question to ask!! If I must choose only one, I will say – The Book of Joy by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This book should be required reading by all around the world. This book is life changing! It teaches you how to find joy no matter your circumstance. It is a guide for living in peace and harmony with yourself and the world around you.
7. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what food would it be?
One?! Ugh! Ok it would have to be potatoes in every plant based form I could get them, especially french fries and fry aaloo.
8. What is your biggest food challenge?
I no longer have food challenges. If you had asked me this question in the early 2000’s, I would have said bread & cheese (in all their forms), cakes, pastries and pies. I no longer view these as challenges because of my anti-inflammatory lifestyle. I eat in with conscious awareness of my mind/body health 6 days out of 7. One day of the week is my splurge day. On that day I eat whatever my plant based heart and tummy desire, without guilt or fear of consequence.
9. If you could give just one piece of advice to someone looking to eat healthily, what would it be?
Start by making veggies your main. Simply make your plate 80% whole plant based foods, and 20% other. That way you don't have to give up eating anything you don't want to. That simple switch will have a massive impact on your health if you're consistent with it. Once you master 80/20 then explore the world of herbs and spices, learn to make you plant based foods irresistably delicious, (if you don’t know where to start, book a cooking class with me). When food tastes good you're more likely to eat it, even if it's good for you!
10. What is the best cooking advice you have ever received?
Above all else, cook with peace in your mind, love, joy and gratitude in your heart, and your food will always be appreciated!
11. Have you always been a plant-based eater?
No actually, I became vegetarian when I was 14 or 15. Around that time my mom decided that she was going to stop eating and cooking meat. She never forced us to become vegetarian, she just stopped making it available for us at home, so I became vegetarian. Besides, I had actually never learned to cook meat. I knew how to prepare it, but not how to cook it. Since I didn’t know how to cook it, and I couldn’t bring it home, the only logical choice was to become vegetarian. It wasn’t easy for me to become totally whole foods plant based in 2015, but I had to for the sake of my health, as well as, compassion for the other life forms we share this Earth with, and for Mother Earth.
12. Other than food, what are your biggest interests or passions?
Music and books. Music is the blood that runs through my veins. Music is the voice of my soul, the way in which my soul communicates. I’ve been singing since I was 3 years old. It is the source of love, joy and gratitude for me. Books allow me to dream without reservation or judgement.
13. What do you want your legacy to be?
When I am gone, I would like people to remember that there once lived a girl who loved all forms of life, from the winter snowflakes, to the trees of the forests. From every animal walking the earth, to every human, strangers and loved ones alike. She strove to be a living example of what it meant to understanding and accepting of others. To respect and have compassion for all that was born of Nature, including humanity. To be empathetic, free of judgement and live a peaceful life. I would want them to know there once lived a girl named Kiran (who's name means ray of light) who's nature was love and who's dharma was joy.
14. What do you wish someone had told you when you were a child?
If you look at any of my elementary school report cards, they all say at the bottom of them “Kiran is a very bright girl, if only she would stop daydreaming and apply herself.” I am an Aquarian, a true dreamer, my head is always in the clouds wondering how could I turn them into reality? I wish someone had told me then that dreams do come true, and not to stop dreaming as they are a window to your future. I must admit, almost everything I have ever dreamed of wanting and doing has come true for me.
15. If you had an unlimited budget to solve one problem facing the world today, what would it be?
Hunger. That has ALWAYS been a mission of mine, since I was a child. I remember being in the backseat of the car when I was very young, driving under the Gardiner ExpressWay with my parents and seeing homeless people asking for money to buy food. I cried and cried at the thought that they had nothing to eat. From that day I remember saying to myself – I will stamp out hunger in Toronto, maybe even the world. There’s still time.