“Teach the next generation to eat BETTER AND LIVE HEALTHIER”

Luke Coutinho, the well-known Mumbai-based integrative lifestyle expert and Fit India Ambassador appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently (May 1) launched the Bharat School Menu and Lifestyle Plan for children in the three-14 age group. Excerpts from an interview with Reshma Ravishanker

- Reshma Ravishanker

What is the objective of the Bharat School Menu and Lifestyle Plan?

During a recent visit to an Anganwadi centre in New Delhi it became clear to me that in cities and villages, children are struggling with obesity, hormonal imbalances, poor immunity, cognitive challenges, and attention disorders. The objective of the Bharat School Menu is to provide balanced meal plans paired with simple, actionable lifestyle guidelines that are age-appropriate and easy to implement at school and home. The goals of the menu are to address the protein gap early, minimise oil intake, encourage the use of local, seasonal, and traditional foods, and build balanced plates that support children's healthy growth, digestion, immunity, and mental focus.

The free-of-charge Bharat School Menu and Lifestyle Plan will be released on the first of every month for a year.

How does the Bharat School Menu address the growing crisis of childhood obesity in middle-class India?