Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor visits Akshaya Patra's London charity kitchen

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor recently visited the London kitchen of Akshaya Patra, a 24-year-old Indian-origin charity that feeds nearly 2.25 million children daily in schools and places of learning across India and the UK.

During his visit to the UK last week, Kapoor, a leading Indian television personality, met with the charity's team of chefs to share a variety of recipes and tips on creating food that is simple, nutritious, cost-effective, and flavorful—appealing to the diverse tastes of children. He also prepared a colorful pasta dish with freshly made sauce and seasonal vegetables, along with a crunchy salad, demonstrating that "good food doesn't have to be expensive, and nutritious food doesn't have to taste bad."

"It is an important day in my life to visit the first international kitchen of an Indian-origin charity that feeds millions of children to support their education," said Kapoor.

He added, “Here in the UK, there is significant food poverty, and the numbers are staggering. Kudos to the dedicated Akshaya Patra UK team for making a difference in the United Kingdom. The UK’s need is very different from India’s, but the team here has come up with a unique model to address the issue.”

According to the Food Foundation charity, around 4 million children in UK households are affected by food insecurity, while the Childhood Trust estimates that 426,500 children in London alone are suffering from hunger.

“Akshaya Patra has a long history of delivering transformative school meal programs. It is a sad reality for a country like the UK that a charity such as Akshaya Patra needs to be involved in supporting children’s nutritional needs to help them make the most of their education,” said Daniel Adams, CEO of Akshaya Patra UK.

The charity provides meals in schools and after-school clubs through its ‘Hot Meals and Homework’ program. Adams noted that Kapoor's visit to the Akshaya Patra site in Watford, north of London, provided valuable insights for the team on how to cater to the “diverse British palate.”

Akshaya Patra UK is a registered charity dedicated to providing nutritious hot meals to hungry children in the country. Until 2020, the charity operated in the UK to fundraise for its feeding programs in India. However, in response to the growing food poverty in the UK, it expanded its efforts to provide food services with the support of partners and donors.