Nutrition for Body and Mind: Culinary Nutrition and Wellness Coach Eshanka Wahi’s Perspective

Every September, Nutrition Week serves as a gentle nudge to pause and reconsider how we fuel our bodies. In a world where fast food chains outnumber fresh markets and wellness advice floods social media feeds, finding a balanced approach to nutrition can feel overwhelming. Yet, amidst this chaos, some voices stand out for their clarity and compassion. One such voice is that of Eshanka Wahi, a Dubai and Delhi-based Culinary Nutrition and Holistic Wellness Coach, and the founder of Eat Clean with Eshanka.

For Wahi, nutrition isn’t just about what’s on the plate; it’s about creating a deeper, more mindful relationship with food. Her philosophy blends the wisdom of traditional practices with modern nutritional science, offering a roadmap that is both practical and transformative. Having been recognised with the “40 under 40” award in the Wellness & Health category, Eshanka embodies the intersection of personal experience and professional expertise. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to empower people, especially women, to embrace sustainable wellness as a way of life.

A Journey Rooted in Purpose

Eshanka’s journey into culinary nutrition began with a simple realisation: that food has the power not only to nourish but also to heal. “In today’s world, mindful eating and consuming nutrient-dense food is of utmost importance”, says Wahi. Over time, her practice evolved into Eat Clean with Eshanka, a platform that champions mindful eating without the pressure of perfection. Wahi also launched a book titled “Plates from Around the World”, with the motive to encourage and educate people about the importance of nutrition and mindful eating. At its core, her work challenges the idea that wellness is complicated or inaccessible. Instead, she advocates for making small, intentional choices, such as swapping refined for whole foods, being present during meals, and respecting the body’s signals.

“Nutrition is more than just food. It is your lifestyle. The roots of nutrition are deeply connected to our sleep, emotional well-being, hair and skin health.” Wahi strongly believes that there’s nothing more nutritious than the daily Indian Thali, which consists of roti, sabzi, dal, rice, raita and achar. Her approach resonates because it’s grounded in lived experience. In a society where wellness often gets reduced to rigid diets or fleeting trends, Eshanka makes a strong case for nutrition as a lifestyle, not a quick fix. “A philosophy that I follow is, whoever I train, I don’t want them coming back to me. I’m a nutritionist, not a dietician. Thus, once I make sure I’ve taught everything when it comes to nutrition, healthy living and food, I encourage people to start their own journey, and the best way to go about it is - meal prep!” 

The Challenges of Healthy Living

Ask anyone today what stops them from eating healthier, and the answers are familiar: lack of time, rising costs, and the constant lure of convenience. Processed foods are often easier to grab than cooking fresh meals, and conflicting nutrition advice online can be paralysing. Eshanka acknowledges these realities but reframes them with optimism. Instead of aiming for perfection, she encourages people to begin where they are, with what’s available, affordable, and realistic.

“Social media heavily influences people today, and that’s the main issue. People blindly trust these trends and often don't realise how they could affect their health.” She further adds, “If you’re someone who doesn’t like Avocado or Kale or any exotic produce, the best way to eat healthy and mindfully is the daily Indian diet”. Our ancestors have thrived, eating food that was grown locally. From quick, nourishing snacks to simple meal prep ideas, her strategies focus on balance rather than deprivation. This practical approach not only makes healthy eating less intimidating but also sustainable in the long run.

Busting the Myths

One of the biggest barriers to mindful nutrition is misinformation. Carbs are demonised one day; fats are villainised the next. Superfoods are often marketed as magic pills, while cultural food wisdom is frequently dismissed as outdated. Through her coaching and content, Wahi works to dismantle these myths. She highlights the importance of context, recognising that nutrition isn’t about absolutes but about what works for each individual. 

Her philosophy doesn’t pit traditional wisdom against science but seeks to integrate them. For Indian families, this often means honouring age-old practices like seasonal eating, while also embracing modern insights such as portion control and nutrient balance.

Nutrition isn’t only about calories or macronutrients; it’s also deeply tied to mental and emotional health. Stress eating, food guilt, and restrictive dieting can disrupt a person’s relationship with food just as much as poor nutrition choices. Eshanka underscores the need to heal this relationship by cultivating mindfulness. Something as simple as slowing down during meals, savouring flavours, and listening to hunger cues can dramatically shift how people experience food. By aligning emotional well-being with nutrition, she advocates for a lifestyle that nourishes both body and mind.

Habits That Last a Lifetime

Fad diets often fail because they demand drastic, unsustainable changes. Instead, Eshanka encourages adopting small but consistent habits, drinking enough water, ensuring colourful plates rich in fruits and vegetables, prioritising protein, and staying active. These micro-changes, when practised daily, accumulate into lasting health benefits.

She often stresses that wellness doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A handful of nuts, a bowl of dal, or a homemade smoothie can be just as powerful as the latest trending health food. The real challenge is consistency, and for that, mindfulness is key.

A Call to Begin

Nutrition Week is more than a campaign; it’s an invitation. An invitation to reflect on how food shapes our lives, and to take that first step toward healthier living. For many, the hardest part of the wellness journey is knowing where to begin. Eshanka’s message is one of reassurance: start small, stay consistent, and be kind to yourself along the way. Her own story stands as proof that mindful nutrition is not about rigid rules but about cultivating awareness and balance. By blending traditional food wisdom with modern science and by connecting nutrition to emotional well-being, she offers a model for holistic health that is relevant, relatable, and achievable.

As Nutrition Week reminds us of the importance of food in shaping our health, voices like Eshanka’s cut through the noise, guiding people toward a life that is not just healthier but also more joyful. After all, eating clean isn’t about restriction, it’s about freedom. Freedom to enjoy food, to nourish the body, and to thrive in every sense of the word.