Food for Thought – Celebrating National Nutrition Week

National Nutrition Week in India, observed from September 1-7 each year stands as a pivotal occasion to spotlight the significance of nutrition in our lives.

It provides a platform for organisations and experts to come together and educate people on the significance of balanced diets, proper nutrition, and its impact on overall health.
To commemorate the event, we organised a special Q&A session with our Culinary Transformation Head - Saurabh Saxena and Nutrition Lead - Shweta Bhatnagar, to gain insights into making healthier food choices, understanding the nutritional value of our meals, and learning how to maintain a well-balanced diet in our daily lives. 
Let us dive into the interactive session and learn more about how nutrition complements culinary excellence at Sodexo. 

Q to Saurabh Saxena: Can you tell us how Sodexo approaches culinary excellence while keeping health and nutrition in mind?

Certainly! We believe that delicious food and healthy choices must go hand in hand. Our chefs are trained to create dishes that not only please the taste buds but also meet the highest nutritional standards. To make this effective, the culinary team on site is backed by dieticians, and nutritionists who lend their expertise to design sustainable menus based on calorific values, seasonal produce and more. We source fresh, local ingredients and use innovative cooking techniques to make each meal a culinary delight. Technological support systems like DRIVE also play a major role in recipe and menu standardisation across our site kitchens. 

Q to Shweta Bhatnagar: How does Sodexo ensure that the meals prepared are nutritionally balanced?

At Sodexo, the quality of food is paramount. We work closely with our chefs to design a balanced and healthy menu. Our responsibility is higher owing to our extensive food service presence in sectors like Healthcare, Education and Manufacturing. Here, we focus on portion control, sustainably sourced ingredients, and ancient cooking methods, and thus offer a variety of options to cater to different dietary needs.

Q to Saurabh Saxena: It's great to hear about Sodexo's commitment to nutrition. Can you share some examples of how Sodexo's chefs have created delicious yet nutritious meals?

Of course! Our chefs take pride in crafting meals that are both flavourful and healthy. For instance, we've developed healthy and balanced recipes that incorporate whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables through our newest food offering – Aarogyum, our unique patient dining offer that uses the goodness of Ayurveda. On the other hand, through the curation of Aahar – a specific food offer designed for manufacturing setups, we aim to meet the dietary requirements of a diverse and modern workforce. We believe culinary experimentation is key and hence we consistently innovate with different kinds of recipes using healthy ingredients – like millet dosas, suji idlis, and more!

Q to Saurabh Saxena: It's clear that Sodexo is dedicated to creating a holistic approach to food services. What's your vision for the future of culinary innovation at Sodexo India?

Our vision is to continue to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and stay true to our commitment to health, nutrition, and sustainability. We aim to expand our menu offerings with diverse and exciting culinary delights with menu curations that focus on a wholesome healthy and sustainable framework and cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. Our recently introduced food offerings like BIY, Warmly Yours, Jugalbandi and more, are pillars of culinary excellence that are specifically crafted to make every meal a delightful and nutritious experience.

Q to Shweta Bhatnagar: Any closing thoughts on the importance of celebrating National Nutrition Week in the context of our sphere of operations in food services?

National Nutrition Week is an important time to remind our consumers of the importance of good food in their lives. This event is a much-needed reminder to make healthy food choices, prioritise nutrition, and enjoy the joys of delicious, health-conscious food. Being a world leader in food services, the onus is definitely on us to ensure the adoption of healthy eating habits, source sustainable ingredients, include balanced meals in our daily diets and look for ways to preserve the environment. It is only by doing all of this, we can move towards a healthier and brighter tomorrow. 

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