A Mom Who Eats Right, Feeds Right

Author of two books, including the latest Eat. Delete. Junior, and nutritionist to Bollywood A-listers like Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, Pooja Makhija talks to Child about raising non-fussy eaters, her food rules, indulgences and much more.

- Saswati Sarkar

WHEN A NUTRITIONIST par excellence wants to be remembered as a successful mom, the outcome is a happy child with a healthy palate. At least the life of Mumbai-based celebrity nutritionist and healthy eating expert Pooja Makhija would have us believe so. Her daughters, Ahaana, 12, and Amaira,10, have shaped up beautifully into mindful eaters. As she talks at length about her kids, she doesn’t forget to thank her ‘two moms’, who were instrumental in her career as a nutritionist. “While my mom made me study nutrition, my mom-inlaw inspired me to pursue it as a career,” says Pooja with an unmistakable warmth and gratitude in her voice. 

Proactive as she is, Pooja combined professional experience with her wisdom as a mother, to launch her latest book Eat. Delete. Junior, the sequel to her previous one: Eat. Delete. With its age-wise chapter division, well-rounded summary at the end of every chapter, in-depth scientific research, quick solutions, kid friendly recipes and smart food choices across various cuisines, the book packs in a lot of information, all in a reader friendly, story-telling fashion.

why the book? With her ‘junior’ client base widening noticeably over the years, and the information explosion on the internet about childhood nutrition (which confuses parents more than enlightening them), Pooja felt that a book on healthy eating for kids was the need of the hour. Moreover, it’s much easier to teach kids, she believes. “If you teach them young, they will learn right and not only that, they’ll pass on their learnings to others too, with enthusiasm,” she says. 

However, the prequel to