Over 850 entries from 23 states and 4 union territories highlight the growing reach of this nutrition initiative.
Mumbai, India; May 6, 2025:Glenmark Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Idobro Impact Solutions, has successfully organized the seventh season of their flagship recipe contest – Meri Poushtik Rasoi 2025. With the theme ‘Bacche na rahe kuposhit, jab khana bane poushtik’ (No child remains malnourished when food becomes nutritious), this initiative continues to lead the fight against malnutrition by spreading awareness about traditional, nutritious, and locally sourced recipes. Season Seven received an overwhelming response with over 850 entries from 23 states and 4 union territories.
Following a meticulous evaluation process by a 7-member selection committee of chefs and nutritionists, 25 finalists were chosen to compete at the grand cook-off event, organized at Ramanath Payyade College of Hospitality Management Studies, Mumbai on 26th April. An esteemed panel comprising Celebrity Chef Altamsh Patel, Chef Ishijyot Surri, and Dr. Rupali Sengupta judged the recipes, based on nutrition, creativity, and passion for cooking.
The winners of Meri Poushtik Rasoi Season 7 are:
- NGO category: Poonam Jain from Vadodara, Gujarat, for ‘Hariyali Burger with Shakarkandi Tikki and Moringa Dip’.
- Professional category: Subhadip Dhali from Hooghly, Kolkata, for ‘Kulthi ke Kamaal Dhamaal Platter’.
- Open (Individual) category: Priyanka Talaulikar from Goa, for ‘Goan Khatkhate’.
- Student category: Nehal Vinod Main from Mumbai, for ‘Millet & Jackfruit Tacos with Tahini Yogurt Dip’.
- Glenmark Employee category: Mrudul Prabhudesai, also from Mumbai, for ‘Ragi-Jackfruit Dumplings’.
Cheryl Pinto, Executive Director – Corporate Services, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said, “At Glenmark Foundation, we recognize that the combating malnutrition is a collective effort. Through Meri Poushtik Rasoi, we have uncovered simple local and innovative recipes both nourishing and rooted in tradition. We are proud that Glenamark’s Meri Poushtik Rasoi has evolved into a nationwide initiative, bringing communities together to build a healthier tomorrow. Season seven is a testament to the power of collective action, and we are truly inspired by the creativity of our participants. Together, we are helping redefine the future of nutrition and health.”
Karon Shaiva – Chief Impact Officer & MD, Idobro Impact Solutions, said during the event, “Malnutrition is a critical issue affecting our society, and Meri Poushtik Rasoi plays a vital role in raising awareness and providing solutions. By focusing on nutritious, locally sourced recipes, we are not only addressing malnutrition but also preserving our culinary heritage. “
Dr. Rupali Sengupta, Convenor, Nutrition Society of India – Mumbai Chapter & Professor, Dr. BMN College of Home Science stated, “It was inspiring to see how each participant of ‘Meri Poushtik Rasoi’ initiative struck a fine balance between taste and nutrition. While the chefs focused on culinary appeal, as a nutritionist, I was impressed with the nutrient retention and thoughtful ingredient choices. These recipes prove that traditional Indian food can be both healthy and delicious—an ideal model for sustainable nutrition.”
Chef Ishijyot Surri, Executive Chef & Owner, SJI Hospitality Group said, “The stories behind the recipes in Meri Poushtik Rasoi‘ touched me deeply. Each dish is a cultural expressions and a health solution, showcasing how traditional ingredients and cooking styles can combat malnutrition. This initiative is a brilliant step towards preserving India’s culinary legacy while ensuring a healthier future for our communities.”
Chef Altamsh Patel, Executive Chef at Hilton Hotels & Resortsremarked, “Being part of Meri Poushtik Rasoi was truly humbling. In the world of luxury dining, it’s easy to overlook food’s fundamental role—to nourish, heal, and connect. This initiative reminded me of the deeper purpose of food. It was an honour to witness the creativity and care that went into these wholesome, community-rooted recipes.”
Glenmark Foundation has placed its focus on malnutrition as a major area of concern, with special emphasis on children in the 0 to 6 years’ age group, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. Through initiatives like Project Kavach, the Foundation takes a 360-degree approach to address malnutrition and promote holistic nutrition solutions across India’s diverse landscape.
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About Glenmark Foundation
Themed around ‘Healthier Children, Healthier World’, Glenmark Foundation, the CSR arm of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, is actively working towards improving maternal and child health. Glenmark Foundation aims to encourage a positive health seeking behavior among pregnant women and mothers with infants, and caregivers towards right nutrition including – good hygiene practices and ensuring complete immunization for children. Along with its NGO partners, the foundation has undertaken several community programs focused towards reducing infant and child mortality among the vulnerable population groups. The various interventions in child health are spread across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Assam in India. The Foundation has also taken up the cause of creating sustainable livelihood for the marginalized and improving access to healthcare through its other programs.
About Meri Poushtik Rasoi
Launched in 2018 by Glenmark Foundation, the CSR arm of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Meri Poushtik Rasoi has grown into a dynamic, multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to combating malnutrition across India. Guided by the powerful theme “Bacche na rahe kuposhit, jab khana bane poushtik” (No child remains malnourished when food becomes nutritious), the initiative brings together NGOs, food and nutrition professionals, students from hospitality institutes, home cooks, and Glenmark employees in a shared mission. The initiative aims to achieve two core objectives – firstly, to document affordable, culturally relevant, and nutritious indigenous recipes that can be leveraged at the grassroots level to address child malnutrition in both urban and rural communities. Secondly, to raise widespread awareness about child malnutrition and the critical role that accessible, nutritious food can play in improving public health in the country. By combining culinary wisdom with a public health agenda, the contest aspires to generate a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of society at large.
About Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BSE: 532296 | NSE: GLENMARK) is a research‐led, global pharmaceutical company, having a presence across Branded, Generics, and OTC segments; with a focus on therapeutic areas of respiratory, dermatology and oncology. The company has 11 world-class manufacturing facilities spread across 4 continents, and operations in over 80 countries. Scrip 100 positions Glenmark amongst the Top 100 biopharmaceutical companies ranked by Pharmaceutical Sales in 2023; while Generics Bulletin places it in the Top 50 Generics and biosimilar companies ranked by sales in 2024. Glenmark’s Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets have been approved in 2023 by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), making it only the second pharmaceutical company in India to achieve this. The organization has impacted over 3.3 million lives over the last decade through its CSR interventions. For more information, visit www.glenmarkpharma.com. You can follow us on LinkedIn (Glenmark Pharmaceuticals) and Instagram (glenmark_pharma).
About Idobro Impact Solutions
Idobro is a social enterprise that facilitates an active and deeper model of engagement to map and implement market-based solutions through a 5-step process to Inform, Interface, Interact, Integrate, and Impact. Idobro seeks to “multiply opportunities and partnerships for women, social and green initiatives to access markets, build capacity, create linkages and deliver solutions for socio-environomic impact”. Idobro provides research, linkages, mobilization, stakeholder relations, project implementation and evaluation based on the objectives and stage of maturity of the initiatives / enterprise. Idobro has organized over 2000 event engagement days on social issues and has been associated with projects such as Communication Catalyst 2018, Sandvik India Diversity Awards 2017, RISE Summit 2016, Asia Pacific Housing Forum 2015, Global Economic Summit 2014, Maha Infra Summit 2013, Evaluation Conclave 2013, IMPACT EXPO 2012, USAID MBPH – Health Confluence 2012, Innovation for India Awards 2012, SEARCC 2011 Asia Pacific Conference, World Bank – IFC India Development Marketplace 2011, Marico Innovation Foundation workshops, International Poverty Conference 2011, Intellecap – Sankalp and Srijan Forums and IRFT – Pro-Sustain Launch in India. We work with leading institutes – international and national for events, interns and volunteers.
For more information, please contact
Udaykumar Murthy | corpcomm@glenmarkpharma.com| +91 9960377617
