I’m Shivani, and I ❤ food! Welcome to Shivani Loves Food – the space for simple and nourishing vegetarian recipes.

I hope you enjoy your time here and would love for you to follow me on Instagram to join the family.

Q&A

Where did you learn to cook?

Growing up in a Gujarati household meant that from a young age, I have always been obsessed with food. As a child, my daily plate featured dhal-bhat-shak-rotli, Diwali was a much-awaited feast for the taste buds, and no day was complete without a cup of steaming masala chai (and this still holds true).

I learnt to cook through osmosis by watching cooking shows – I was fascinated by how simple ingredients can be paired together in incredulous ways to produce something which looks and tastes completely different. My mother is also an amazing cook, and I spent many days learning through helping her to prepare meals in the kitchen.

What do you do day-to-day?

At the moment, I am studying for a PhD. My research involves the development of new functional food products containing high amylose wheat, and analysis of postprandial metabolic effects. For non-science folk, that means I’m baking high fibre bread and examining it’s effects on blood glucose!

If you know me, you’ll know this research project is right up my alley – it’s evident that I love cooking, but I’m also incredibly passionate about improving human health. Given that wheat is ubiquitous in Western cuisine, there is great potential for this research to improve the nutritional quality of our diets with minimal effort!

Why did you start a blog?

I started Shivani Loves Food in Summer 2017 when I was 16 years old. I was a bored teenager looking to occupy myself over the Summer, so I created an online space to share my favourite recipes!

It’s incredible how much my life has changed since then but this one aspect of my identity has remained constant. I truly love the entire food blogging process and it makes my day to hear from readers who enjoy my recipes. I am so grateful for you all!

What kind of recipes do you share?

On SLF, I share simple and nourishing recipes prioritising healthier-for-you ingredients. The aim is to make healthier eating more accessible by showing you that vibrant food is tasty AND fun!

All of my recipes are vegetarian and most are vegan-friendly, with vegan alternatives indicated where possible. Many recipes are also gluten-free and/or nut-free!

Why are your recipes in grams?

Most of my recipes feature both metric and imperial measurements (American friends, I got you). However if you are baking something, I highly recommend using a digital scale to weigh your ingredients, as this is far more accurate. You can purchase an affordable one here.

What photography equipment do you use?

Please note that some of the links listed below are affiliate links and I will earn a small comission if you purchase through these links. I have used all of the products below and recommend them as they are companies I trust, not because of the comissions I earn from these products.

I take my food photos using the Nikon D3400 DSLR camera and 50mm f1.8 lens. I shoot in natural light (sometimes with my homemade tripod), and do post-production in Lightroom.

Food photography is a lot of fun and I have shared some tips in the food photography series on the blog. Feel free to drop me an email if you have further questions!

What’s your favourite food?

I try not to discriminate when it comes to food, but one of my favourites on the blog is masala grilled cheese. And pancakes. Always pancakes.

What do you do in your spare time?

When I’m not studying or blogging, you’ll find me watching Netflix, drinking smoothies, at the gym, or playing the piano. Or you’ll find me at the supermarket, aka my favourite place on earth.

I hope you enjoy my recipes. It would mean the world to me if you leave me a rating and review each time you make one!

Shivani

Previous projects:

Sugar & Spice: A cookbook for COVID-19 relief in India

In 2021, I produced an eCookbook featuring 15 of my favourite Indian and Indian-inspired recipes to raise money for COVID-19 relief in India.

100% of the proceeds were donated to Making The Difference, a Non-Government Organization raising money for COVID-19 relief in India. In total, we raised over $800 for the cause! Thank you for your continued support <3

If you’d like to donate further, you can via the Making The Difference website. I am no longer listing the eBook on SLF, but please get in touch via email if you’d like a copy.