Poshan Nutrition & Lifestyle Consulting

Most Indians—vegetarians, eggetarians, selective non-vegetarians, or even hardcore meat eaters—still struggle to meet even their basic daily protein needs. As a dietitian, I see this all the time during protein assessments.

📣 The protein conversation today is exciting! From protein chips and bhel to bars and chocolates, protein is everywhere. But remember: not every “high-protein” food is truly protein-rich. If most calories still come from fat and carbs, it’s more of an energy snack with added protein. Read labels mindfully.

🍗 As someone who eats non-veg regularly, I was surprised how adding just 24g protein daily + strength training dramatically improved my strength, energy, fullness, and even reduced cravings. On my veg days, supplementation helps bridge the gap.

💪 Protein assessment + strength training = a game changer, especially for women. Strong muscles make everyday life easier as we age—whether it’s carrying groceries, your laptop bag, or your child ❤️

Would love to hear your experience with protein & strength training!

Honored to participate in the Panel Discussion on “Claims & Evidence: Designing Robust Clinical & Real-World Evidence Programs” at Inventicon 11th Annual Nutrition India Summit 2026 with fellow DRL colleagues Dr. Nandan Joshi, Dr. Rachana Bhoite, & Dr Swarn Singh, and Dr Nikhil Bangale.

A powerful session emphasizing the importance of scientific credibility, regulatory alignment, and evidence-backed innovation in shaping the future of nutrition and nutraceuticals

Happy to be on the Panel discussion: Route-to-Market & Retail Readiness at Vitafoods this year!

This session explored strategies to optimize channel mix by balancing direct and indirect routes to maximize market coverage. Panelists discussed strengthening retail ex*****on to improve product visibility, availability, and in-store compliance, while emphasizing launch preparedness through alignment of supply, promotions, and retail onboarding for seamless market rollouts.

Moderator: -Dr. FT Prabodh S. Halde ( PhD), Global Regulatory, Public Policy and Advocacy, Marico Limited

Panel Members:

Ketan Bhatia, Vice President – Consumer Products, Tata 1mg
Dr.Vivek Srivastav, Pharmaceuticals Limited, CEO – B2B & CRDMO, Multani Pharmaceuticals Limited
Puru Gupta & Operating Partner, Proteus Partners
Sukhada Bhatte, Science Specialist – Ideatio,n Emerging Markets & Clinical Research, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd
Amreen Sheikh, Chief Dietician, KIMS Hospital, Thane

Truly a period of Learning, Gratitude & Growth...

Greatful to Dr. Eileen Canday for giving me the opportunity to contribute a Chapter on "Fuelling recovery for Transplant Patients" in such a thoughtful evidence based book on "Nutritional Pathways for Transplant Success". Being part of this initiative has been both an honour and a learning experience.

I had the opportunity to complete four more ESPEN - European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism - LLL courses, each one expanding my perspective and reinforcing the importance of continuous professional development. A special thanks to the support and encouragement from my little M who was looked after with love by Dr. Rita Patil Zamurrud Patel Priyanka Sadhukhan Shilpa Joshi I Registered Dietitian NAAZNIN HUSEIN Dr. Eileen Canday Aranta Matondkar Prajakta and Shruti Shradha Vijan Shambhavi Kamat Rima Desai Rao, RD. Thank you Dr. Shilpa Varma PhD, MSc, ESPEN Diploma, ESPEN T-LLL, CDE and Shivshankar Timmanpyati for creating this opportunity.

And perhaps the most important learning of the month... Time spent with friends is the most rejuvenating investment we can make in ourselves. Professional growth is important, but personal connections are what truly energize us.

Here’s to lifelong learning, meaningful collaborations, and nurturing the relationships that sustain us.

Happy to moderate an insightful panel discussion at Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Hospital, Powai on “TRANSLATING EVIDENCE INTO CLINICAL PRACTICE FOR OBESITY MANAGEMENT”

Translating evidence into clinical practice reinforces one truth- diet and lifestyle remains the mainstay of obesity management. No matter how much we innovate, the foundation continues to rest on creating a sustainable calorie deficit diet, improving diet diversity, embracing seasonal and local foods, and ensuring adequate protein and fiber intake.

Whether through dietary interventions, pharmacotherapy, or surgical support, effective obesity care will always require a personalized diet and lifestyle consultation- focusing on the quality, quantity, and composition of one’s daily intake.

It was a pleasure discussing these aspects with our expert panelists — Ms. Niti Desai, Ms. Richa Anand , Ms. Varsha Gorey, Ms. Zamurrud Patel, Mrs. Bhakti Samant, and Ms. Shifali Mehraa.

Thank you Ms Richa Anand, Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Hospital and IDA Mumbai Chapter for the invite.

“Omg, you’ve lost weight!”
Often the first thing we say — even before a hello.

As a society, we put too much emphasis on weight, mostly for the wrong reasons — focusing only on appearance rather than health.

In a world full of “miracle foods” and “transformation stories,” it’s time we ask: What does weight really tell us? 🧠💪

Here are a few reflections:
🏋️‍♀️Weight ≠ Health: Confidence can exist at any size. Appearance is just one piece of the puzzle.

👵Weight naturally shifts with age, pregnancy, and life stages. What matters is building and retaining muscle mass, not just shedding kilos.

🥺If you’re doing everything “right” and not losing weight, it may be time to reassess — not give up. Look at your protein intake, strength training, sleep, and stress levels.

⏳Quick fixes = short-term gains. Fads may promise results but come with trade-offs: fatigue, poor strength, rebound weight.

💉Medications & surgeries have a role — for some. But they’re not the first step. Begin with a registered dietitian. Prioritize lifestyle first.

😎 Weight is just a number. It doesn’t define you or your strength, resilience, or health.

🔑 Eat balanced meals rich in protein, fibre, seasonal produce, and complex carbs.
🏃‍♀️ Move daily — combine cardio with strength training.

Let’s talk about health — not just weight.

A fruitful Sunday morning spent amidst an expert panel discussing “Optimizing Body Composition for Athletic and Sports Performance- Science and Strategy".

When we understand the unique physiological needs of each sport — and each athlete — we move from generic goals to precision performance. The panel emphasized what we all know: body weight is just one metric; body composition is the real game-changer. Optimization isn’t just about looking leaner, it’s about being faster, stronger, and smarter in every aspect of training and recovery.

Grateful to Gauri Murthy Dr. Geetanjali Bhide Apurva Surve Charmi Thaker Subhadra mandalika who contributed with such depth and candour.

Thank you Shivshankar Timmanpyati Dr. Eileen Canday Purabi Mahajan for the invite and Aashani Shah Shilpa Varma IAPEN India Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition InBody India Sakshi Mhatre Mahesh Gulavani heartfelt appreciation for putting together a wonderful academic treat!



At TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Walking through the sacred streets of Varanasi, clocking in 20,000 steps felt like the perfect way to step into a milestone birthday. I was in the city for ICNC 2025, and it being the Maha Kumbh, friends and family nudged me to take a holy dip and visit the iconic temples. While I skipped the waters, I was fortunate to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.🛕

Got up at 3 am, reached the temple at 4, offered prayers, did the parikramas and was back in time to attend the conference before it began. Thats more than half of the 20,000 steps completed before breakfast. Half of my to-do list completed. Felt at peace, serene and mentally alert to attend the conference🤓.

It made me think—I may not be deeply religious, but maybe our ancestors had a point. When I look back, my Aji would get up at 4 am, walk across the garden to gather flowers, durva and bel patra. Perform her pooja rituals, do the parikramas, meditate, and have breakfast, even before the sun gods descended. The rest of the day was as productive as it could get....And here we are, struggling to wake up early, get stressed about achieving 10000 steps, and forget to be mindful about physical activity through the day. Our lifestyles do not offer a scope to be active through the day...or does it? It is something to ponder about! 👵

As they say, “The early bird gets the worm!”—starting our day early could offer us more than just productivity; it could be a game-changer for our health. 🐛

What if we simply got up early, connected with nature, practiced mindfulness, walked in devotion—or even just for ourselves? Maybe half our NCD burden would disappear. But then again, who has the time? 🤷‍♀️

Any thoughts? 😎

'Anemia Gone, Energy On!’ – a thoughtfully organized workshop and recipe competition by ._manisha, Evita, Ruchita, and their team at Karuna Hospital. I am honored to be a part of the Poshan Maah Celebrations this year as the Chief Guest, and to have the opportunity to evaluate the wonderful iron-rich recipes created by the staff at Karuna Hospital. The efforts to raise awareness about anemia were commendable and were supported by local MLA Mr. Vinod Ghosalkar, Bharati Tai, Mr. Chheda, and the dedicated sisters of Karuna Hospital. Congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to my dietitian colleagues at Karuna Hospital!

It was an honor to be part of the thoughtfully organized National Nutrition Month 2024 student event, "Nutriwise 2024: Nurturing Nutrition through Innovation," hosted by FSSAI Western Region at ITCFSAN, Mumbai. I am deeply grateful to Madam Pritee Chaudhary, IRS WR, Ms. FT Subhaprada Nishtala ITCFSAN, Ms Samiksha Pawar, Ms Vaidehi Kalzunkar , Ms Jyoti Harne, Ms Salman
for inviting me to this interactive session.

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the panel discussion on ‘Nurturing Nutrition through Innovation,’ alongside distinguished experts like Dr. Sachin Jadhav, Assistant Commissioner, FDA Maharashtra, Ms. Chitra Kamath, Acting Director for India, Invest and Trade Western Australia, Ms. Karishma Bhalla, Co-founder of Taramis Labs and Dr Jyoti Sagar Sontakke-Gokhale, Professor ICT Mumbai. The event saw over 100 students from various Mumbai colleges specializing in food science, technology, and nutrition, who also engaged in exciting competitions like digital photography. The cherry on the cake was the Skit on Heritage Foods of India by brilliant students of GN Khalsa college.

The event was covered by PIB-https://lnkd.in/dpD_BXCC

😎 I was amazed at how my little one querped at her Ajoba (grandfather), "🧁Cupcakes are junk food! They have lot of sugar, and if you eat sugar ants will come and eat your teeth!" Here is a kid who is taught in her school about junk food, on the other hand, adults around her find every occassion to offer a sweet treat. So confusing for the child...🤔
🤷‍♀️What are we really teaching our kids here?

💡Fundamentally, no food is inherently good or bad. Take a modak for example. If I choose to indulge in a sweet, delicate modak during Ganpati or Sankashti Chaturthi, why can't I savor it guilt-free?

🌺 It’s tradition and joy rolled into one. The problem isn’t the modak itself; it’s that we now have modak equivalents-sweets and treats-readily available year-round. The specialness gets lost, and so does our sense of balance.

🏷️ But what’s more concerning is how we label food for our kids. Schools, families, and society sometimes fall into the trap of categorizing foods as either "good" or "bad," without teaching why and how we should make better choices. In this rush to protect our kids from “junk,” we might be missing an opportunity to instill a healthier, more positive relationship with food.

🎓 I genuinely hope schools can focus on building this balanced perspective—empowering kids to understand their food choices instead of fearing them. Rather than creating guilt around a cupcake or a laddoo, let’s guide them towards moderation and mindfulness. Because at the end of the day, a modak enjoyed in moderation, as part of a cultural celebration, can be just as nourishing to the soul as a salad is to the body.

✉️ Any suggestions on how we can help kids make the right choices without shaming their favorite foods? Hoping to hear some interesting ideas!!

Ganpati Bappa Morya!! 🙏🏻