Promoting organic food to help children make wise food choices

AMRITSAR:In a scenario, when there is a constant thrill to meet digital challenges, efforts are on in the city to promote traditional food and lifestyle through the propagation of organic food, developing herbal gardens, and teaching Ayurvedic aspects of our cuisine.

Gayatri Peshawaria with her students, who are taught multiple cuisines in Amritsar. Tribune photo

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 26

In a scenario, when there is a constant thrill to meet digital challenges, efforts are on in the city to promote traditional food and lifestyle through the propagation of organic food, developing herbal gardens, and teaching Ayurvedic aspects of our cuisine.

Gayatri Peshawaria, chef and founder of Gayatri’s Gourmet, is focusing on making kids understand the value of local food and farm products, highlighting Ayurvedic aspects of Indian food.

Her MasterClass by Gayatri’s Gourmet is a unique farm to fork food education programme that empowers schoolchildren to make wise food choices in a pleasurable environment. The programme also touches Ayurveda in parts.

“Ayurveda is a key driver throughout the programme. The children are introduced to Ayurvedic doshas – Vata, Pitta, Kapha – and the traits of each dosha (ailments). These kids are to reflect upon their own dosha. They can devise recipes to solve their own basic health issues with Indian food ingredients at their homes. Ayurveda focuses greatly on regional, locally grown, seasonal ingredients. This is where we encourage children to grow their food. The Kitchen Garden programme helps them understand how they can grow their food naturally and why certain foods are consumed at certain times of the year,” said Gayatri Peshawaria.

“The aim is to take kids back to basics, to the living style of their grandparents in space of food delivery apps, attractive food advertising and proliferation of food media,” she added.

The government is also keen on making young minds realise the importance of Indian herbal plants. As per the plan, 20 government schools in the district will have herbal gardens as part of the department of forest and wildlife preservation School Herbal Garden Project.

These gardens will be made under the supervision of DEO Salwinder Singh Samra, and deputy DEO Rajesh Sharma. The schools have been given a list of herbal plants to be planted by them. The aim of the project is to connect and make understand the value of medicinal plants by the students, the staff of the school.

Even in the general public, there is a desire to purchase Ayuverdic plants. These plants are available at Rs 20, depending upon the preference of customers.