Time for Foundational Nutrition and Lifestyle Literacy: Why Healthy Habits Must Begin in Schools

As India observes Poshan Maah, the focus on nutrition is also an opportunity to rethink how the country approaches long-term health. With undernutrition continuing to affect vulnerable communities and lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension on the rise, experts are highlighting the importance of nutrition and lifestyle education from an early age.

In an opinion piece published by Hindustan Times on September 21, 2026, Pawan Agarwal, former CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and founder-CEO of Food Future Foundation, along with Santanu Mishra, co-founder of Smile Foundation, called for greater investment in foundational nutrition and lifestyle literacy.

Their central argument is that preventing future health problems must become a stronger part of India’s public health strategy. Schools, which already play a major role in children’s nutrition, could become an important platform for building healthier habits that last into adulthood.

India’s Nutrition Challenge Is Changing

India faces a complex nutrition challenge. Maternal and child undernutrition remain important public health concerns, while obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are also becoming increasingly significant.

These challenges are often treated as separate issues, but they are connected through nutrition, lifestyle, socioeconomic conditions and access to healthcare. Poor nutrition during childhood can affect growth and development, while unhealthy dietary patterns and physical inactivity can contribute to chronic health risks later in life.

As the country’s population ages, healthy ageing is also becoming a growing priority. The habits people develop during childhood and adolescence—including what they eat, how much they move and how they sleep—can influence their health for decades.

This makes nutrition education more than a short-term awareness activity. It is an investment in lifelong health.

Why Prevention Must Go Beyond Treating Diseases

India has made significant investments in maternal and child nutrition and programmes aimed at addressing undernutrition. However, the growing burden of NCDs highlights the need to strengthen prevention alongside treatment.

According to the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition’s Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, unhealthy diets account for an estimated 56.4% of India’s disease burden. This figure underscores the importance of food choices and dietary patterns in public health.

Nutrition-related prevention does not mean placing the responsibility for health entirely on individuals. Food affordability, access to nutritious meals, family circumstances, education and the surrounding food environment all influence what people eat.

Effective prevention therefore requires both supportive systems and the knowledge people need to make informed choices.

Why Schools Are Central to Nutrition Literacy

Schools offer an important opportunity to introduce healthy habits during the years when food preferences, routines and behaviours are still developing.

Through the PM POSHAN scheme, millions of children receive cooked meals on school days. For children from vulnerable households, these meals provide an important nutritional safety net and contribute to their access to food.

However, the role of schools can extend beyond providing meals. They can also help children understand nutrition, recognise balanced food choices and develop a positive relationship with food.

When nutrition education is incorporated into everyday school life, children can learn not only what a balanced meal looks like but also why dietary diversity, physical activity and healthy routines matter.

PM POSHAN: Moving Beyond Calories to Dietary Diversity

School meals are an important part of India’s effort to support children’s nutrition. But nutritional adequacy involves more than meeting calorie requirements.

Children also need essential vitamins, minerals, protein and other nutrients to support growth, learning and development. Micronutrient deficiencies—sometimes described as hidden hunger—can persist even when a person’s calorie intake is sufficient.

School meal planning can therefore place greater emphasis on dietary diversity and locally appropriate foods. Depending on regional availability and nutritional requirements, menus may incorporate a wider variety of grains, pulses, vegetables and other nutritious ingredients.

Locally sourced foods can also help make menus culturally familiar and practical. Any changes to school meal programmes, however, should be guided by nutritional standards, food safety requirements and the needs of children.

Healthy Eating Must Extend Beyond the School Meal

A nutritious school lunch is only one part of a child’s daily diet. Food packed in tiffins, snacks purchased near school and meals eaten at home also influence overall nutrition.

This is why providing healthy food alone may not be enough. Children also need the knowledge and skills to make informed food choices in different settings.

Nutrition literacy can help students understand food variety, portion balance, the importance of fruits and vegetables, and why frequently consuming foods high in salt, sugar or unhealthy fats may affect long-term health.

Schools can reinforce these lessons through age-appropriate classroom activities, discussions, practical demonstrations and collaboration with parents and caregivers.

What Foundational Nutrition and Lifestyle Literacy Could Include

Nutrition education is most useful when it is practical, engaging and relevant to children’s everyday lives. A foundational programme could cover several interconnected areas:

• Understanding balanced meals: Teaching children about dietary variety and the role of different food groups.
• Recognising nutritious foods: Encouraging familiarity with vegetables, fruits, pulses, whole grains and other locally available foods.
• Building healthy eating habits: Discussing regular meals, mindful eating and the importance of variety.
• Understanding food labels: Introducing basic awareness of sugar, salt and other nutritional information in packaged foods.
• Staying physically active: Encouraging age-appropriate movement, play and participation in physical education.
• Prioritising sleep: Helping children understand the role of sufficient, regular sleep in growth, learning and well-being.
• Developing food safety awareness: Teaching basic practices such as handwashing, safe food handling and hygienic eating habits.

Such education should avoid food shaming, rigid dieting messages or the idea that body weight alone determines health. The goal should be to build knowledge, confidence and sustainable habits—not to create anxiety around food.

Why Lifestyle Education Should Begin Early

Healthy ageing does not begin only in later life. The foundations are shaped much earlier through the cumulative effects of nutrition, movement, sleep and other behaviours.

Children who learn about healthy routines may be better equipped to make informed decisions as they grow older. These lessons can also reach beyond the classroom when students share what they learn with their families.

However, knowledge alone cannot overcome every barrier to healthy living. Families need access to affordable nutritious foods, safe spaces for physical activity and supportive environments in which healthy choices are realistic.

For this reason, nutrition literacy should be supported by school policies, community engagement and broader public health measures.

Building a Culture of Prevention in India

Strengthening nutrition and lifestyle literacy requires coordination among schools, families, public health professionals and policymakers. Teachers need suitable learning resources, school meal providers need clear nutritional guidance, and parents should be included in efforts to reinforce healthy habits.

Schools can also create environments that make healthier choices easier. Access to safe drinking water, opportunities for physical activity and nutritious food options around school can complement classroom learning.

Any initiative should be inclusive and sensitive to regional food cultures, household circumstances and children’s diverse nutritional needs. Programmes should also be evaluated to understand whether they improve nutrition knowledge, food environments and relevant health outcomes.

The Way Forward

India’s nutrition priorities are evolving. Addressing undernutrition remains essential, but the rising burden of NCDs makes prevention and lifelong health education equally important.

The call for foundational nutrition and lifestyle literacy highlights an opportunity to build on existing school-based platforms such as PM POSHAN. By combining nutritious meals with practical education, supportive environments and family engagement, schools can help children develop habits that support health throughout life.

The larger goal is to move from a system that primarily responds to illness towards one that also equips people with the knowledge and conditions needed to protect their health. Investing in nutrition literacy today could help lay the groundwork for a healthier India tomorrow.

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Secondary Keywords: Nutrition education in schools, Poshan Maah, PM POSHAN scheme, healthy eating habits for children, NCD prevention in India, school nutrition programmes, dietary diversity, lifestyle disease prevention