Rosy pink beetroot paranthas, gleaming white coconut laddoos, green methi theplas… as the glimmering steel dabbas open at this particular public school in Dadar’s Gautam Nagar, there’s a conspicuous absence of chips and Maggi noodles. This is Shindewadi Mumbai public school, which has been shortlisted as one of the world’s 10 best schools by UK-based T4 Education, a global community that champions stellar educational initiatives. The 15-year-old school is one of the 26-odd public schools run by the not-for-profit educational body, Akanksha Foundation.

“Earlier, children would bring white rice and red chilli paste in their lunch boxes,” says the principal, Sakshi Bhatia. “This is a staple diet of the Gautam Nagar community.” Due to poor nutrition, the children fell sick often, and as a result, their academic performance suffered. The problem intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when households lost their source of income and thus, their ability to put food—healthy or unhealthy—in the lunchbox.