THE GRANDMOTHER DONATING 50,000 MEALS

Chef Akila’s free meal scheme addresses the level of child poverty in India

Growing up in south India, Akila was taught to cook by her father, who would share his knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine and the healing properties of herbs and spices. Now in her mid-seventies, Akila runs a Yorkshire-based food business, delivering nutritious Indian meals. ‘My father taught me about the effect that wholesome Indian food can have on our health,’ she explains. ‘If you look at how unhealthy some takeaways are – as well as some supermarket curries – you’ll realise the need for a healthier, home-cooked alternative.’ Chef Akila’s meals, developed with the help of nutritionists, are low in salt, fat and sugar, and the plantbased range uses all-natural, organic ingredients. ‘If it isn’t good enough for my grandchildren, it doesn’t leave the kitchen,’ she says.

During the pandemic, more people opted to support local businesses, and Chef Akila saw a huge increase in sales. Grateful for the support, she explains how she wanted to continue to help others. ‘We were able to give back to the community by giving free and subsidised meals to key workers and those shielding. We were so glad to be able to show gratitude for everything the workers have done over this past year.’ Chef Akila also launched the ‘buy one, feed one’ scheme, which meant that for every meal that’s sold, a free meal is donated to a child living in poverty in India. Meals are donated through charities, including the Akshaya Patra Foundation (tapf.org.uk).

‘We believe that nobody should ever go hungry, particularly children,’ she says. ‘Having grown up in India, I wanted to give something back. Child poverty and a lack of proper school meals still exists in many parts of India, and with the help of our customers, we’re playing our part in helping these children.’ MV

To order meals from Chef Akila, including a vegan curry box, go to chefakila.com.