New Delhi [India], March 11: At the Nutrition Conclave 2025, experts highlighted the potential impact of integrating food literacy into school curriculums, stating it could reduce undernourishment by up to 14%. The event, organized by the Nourishing Schools Foundation (NSF) and Food Future Foundation (FFF), also marked the launch of two key reports discussing the role of nutrition education in reducing school absenteeism and promoting cognitive development.
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, emphasized the importance of awareness in combating malnutrition. She pointed out that, under Poshan 2.0, over 8 crore children and 1 crore pregnant women are reached, but true impact can only be achieved through education. “Poshan Shiksha” should translate into action that empowers children and communities, she said.
Archana Sinha, CEO of the Nourishing Schools Foundation, highlighted the urgency of integrating food literacy in schools. “Every second Indian adolescent is either undernourished or overweight. Schools must equip children with knowledge and skills to make healthier choices,” she said. Sinha also mentioned that their pilot programs have shown a 14% reduction in undernourishment through food literacy initiatives.
The conclave, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, discussed the importance of structured nutrition education to combat micronutrient deficiencies. NSF’s pilot program already reduced child undernourishment by 4%, offering a potential model for nationwide implementation.
Panels at the conclave, including “Aligning Nutrition Education with NEP 2020,” discussed the significance of early interventions for shaping lifelong healthy habits. Public-private partnerships were also emphasized in another panel, “Implementing Nutrition Education – Challenges and Opportunities,” led by Dr. Raj Bhandari from NITI Aayog and Anita Malhotra from Lotus Valley International School.
Pawan Agarwal, CEO of FFF, stressed the need for corporate and philanthropic support to scale food literacy programs for measurable, sustained impact. “Food literacy isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about empowering students to make informed food choices,” he noted.
Currently, 95,000 children across 330+ schools in four states are benefiting from NSF’s initiatives. The conclave called for stronger policy support to integrate nutrition education into India’s school curriculum, helping achieve SDG-2 (Zero Hunger by 2030).