Bharat with Bharat School Menu
Many of us wonder how to do something for our nation. Some like Luke Coutuno, a well known integrative expert from Mumbai to do something about it by taking a step forward in this direction. His initiative is certainly something we all could emulate in our own way. His answers as shared with Jamuna Rangachari
When he and his team started seeing lifestyle disorders—like obesity, insulin resistance, hormonal issues, and vitamin deficiencies—show up in children as young as seven or eight, across both cities and villages, he knew he should do something about it. It was no longer about one region or one income group. Children everywhere were eating more processed foods, moving less, living under stress, and missing essential macro and micronutrients like iron etc. That’s when it became clear: we can’t wait for adulthood to start talking about health. The Prime Minister’s call to build a healthier Bharat inspired him to act now—for the generation that will shape our future.
This initiative is a natural extension of our commitment to preventive health and the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of Vocal for Local. As an integrative and lifestyle medicine practitioner and Fit India Ambassador, he has seen how the right nutrition and lifestyle—when started early—can dramatically alter the course of a child’s life. The Bharat School Menu and Lifestyle Plan was born out of this intent: to give every child a foundation of clean, local, and balanced eating habits. It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency, cultural respect, and restoring our children’s connection with food that nourishes, not depletes.
What makes him truly happy is the possibility of giving every Indian child—regardless of where they live or what they can afford—access to simple, balanced nutrition. The Bharat School Menu and Lifestyle Plan is not just about food. It’s about building stronger, healthier futures from the classroom up. It brings together everything we’ve learned over the years: the importance of early intervention, the power of local wisdom, and the impact of small, daily habits. Seeing schools and communities engage with it so openly, and watching children experience real change in how they eat, feel, and grow—that’s the most fulfilling part.
We wish him all the best and am sure we shall hear more about him in other initiatives too.
By Jamuna Rangachari
