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This National Nutrition Week, India’s chefs are stepping into the role of wellness champions.
From hotels and restaurants to workplace kitchens, chefs across India are proving that the future of dining lies in this intersection of creativity, nutrition, and care
Once upon a time, the kitchen was seen purely as the place of indulgence. Today, it has transformed into a wellness atelier, where chefs are blurring the lines between culinary artistry and nutritional science. Across India’s leading hotels and foodservice institutions, chefs are stepping into the role of “new-age nutritionists,” championing health without compromising on taste, sustainability, or cultural resonance.
Chef Arjyo Banerjee, Chief Culinary Officer, Compass Group India, describes this evolution as the rise of “stealth health.” “Chefs are curators of both flavour and well-being. Through our Innovation Kitchen, we are incorporating indigenous grains such as millets, regional superfoods, and nutrient-rich ingredients into beloved recipes without compromising on taste. Our Nutrition Scorecard ensures that every dish meets macro- and micronutrient requirements across workplaces, schools, healthcare, and manufacturing sites,” he shares. With storytelling, health tags, and engaging menus, Compass is making nutrition both fun and intuitive.
This shift isn’t limited to workplace dining. At Jaypee Residency Manor in Mussoorie, food is being reimagined as an anchor of holistic living. Tanuj Nayyar, Executive Assistant Manager, F&B, puts it simply: “The new age nutritionist is, in fact, wearing a chef’s hat. At Jaypee Hotels, our kitchens are wellness ateliers, where immunity-boosting ingredients, locally sourced produce, and mindful cooking techniques converge. Every plate is a conscious effort to harmonize taste, nutrition, and well-being.”
Luxury hospitality, too, is embracing this transformation. At Taj Mahal, New Delhi, Executive Chef Kaushik Misra believes that indulgence and intention can coexist. “Wellness, to me, is more than garnish, it’s the soul of the plate. Khichdi reborn with the ancient resilience of millets or a foxtail grain risotto aren’t substitutions but evolutions. Ferments, probiotic-forward dips, and cold-pressed oils ensure every note on the plate is purposeful,” he says. His philosophy extends beyond flavour to sustainability through initiatives like Innergise Green Meetings, curating menus that honour both people and planet. “Chefs are emerging as wellness champions because we can bring flavour, health, and sustainability together in ways that resonate deeply with today’s diner.”
Chef Abhinav Rustagi, who helms The Connaught, New Delhi – IHCL SeleQtions, sees his role as making nutrition exciting and approachable. “Healthy eating doesn’t have to feel like sacrifice; it can be indulgent, playful, and deeply rooted in tradition. For Nutrition Week, we celebrated this at HUB with vibrant salads – Smoked Salmon with capers and pickled pineapple, Grilled Chicken with barley, and a refreshing Watermelon with chèvre and caramelized walnuts. Each dish was designed to be light, nutrient-rich, and memorable,” he explains. To him, chefs are wellness champions because they translate the science of nutrition into flavour, creativity, and joy on the plate.
Together, these voices highlight a powerful shift: food is no longer a passive act of consumption but an active choice of nourishment. From hotels and restaurants to workplace kitchens, chefs across India are proving that the future of dining lies in this intersection of creativity, nutrition, and care. They are not just shaping menus; they are shaping healthier lifestyles and reimagining what it means to eat well.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
September 06, 2025, 11:20 IST
