Maharashtra Cabinet Mandates Healthy Menus for Government Offices and Meetings
The Maharashtra state cabinet on Tuesday approved a comprehensive policy to replace oily and processed snacks with healthier, nutritious food options across all government and semi-government offices in the state, including establishments like the Thane zilla parishad.
Under the new directive, traditional fried snacks such as batata vadas, pakodas, cutlets, biscuits, and dhoklas served during official meetings, conferences, and training sessions will make way for fruits, boiled pulses, salads, idli-sambar, and bhakris made from millets like ragi, jowar, and bajra.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the decision aims to promote balanced diets and combat the rise of lifestyle-related conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension among public sector employees. The policy will also mandate healthy menu requirements in all new catering contracts issued by state departments.
Nipun Vinayak, principal secretary of the public health department, stated that the initiative aims to nudge the government machinery toward adopting wholesome diets, fostering a broader cultural shift. Dr Kailas Baviskar, deputy director of the health department, noted that the change is directly targeted at addressing the surge in lifestyle diseases.
The health department has outlined recommended menu items, which include whole grains, leafy vegetables, dal, usal, sprouted pulses, poha, upma, thalipeeth, boiled eggs, and millet khichdi. Recommended beverages include coconut water, buttermilk, solkadhi, green tea, herbal tea, sugar-free milk, and low-sugar lemon water.
State offices have been instructed to conduct awareness sessions for staff regarding nutrition and healthy living, using dietary guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition as a benchmark.
Healthy food options have already been introduced at the Mantralaya canteen in Mumbai, where a senior doctor noted that at least 20 percent of employees deal with hypertension or diabetes.
The transition will shift the standard daily fare served at district-level offices across Maharashtra. Employees at the Thane zilla parishad noted that items like misal, bhajiya, and vada pav have historically formed the bulk of canteen offerings, making the shift to nutritious meals a significant departure from standard institutional menus.
