Prakriti Café: Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, today inaugurated Prakriti Café at Ayush Bhawan, a first-of-its-kind workplace initiative of the Ministry of Ayush aimed at promoting healthy dietary practices inspired by Ayush Ahaar.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav, said, “Prakriti Café is a reflection of our vision of promoting wellness not only through healthcare, but also through healthy everyday choices. Food is an integral part of our overall well-being, and nutritious food in itself can be a form of nourishment and support for good health. Through initiatives such as Ayush Ahaar, we seek to encourage greater awareness about nutritious, wholesome and balanced eating.
Shri Jadhav also noted that today, our dietary habits are changing, and the growing culture of junk food is adversely affecting health and contributing to lifestyle-related diseases. We must recognise the risks associated with such unhealthy habits, particularly among young people, and encourage healthier choices. Prakriti Café will provide a space where people can experience the values of healthy living in their daily lives, with wholesome Ayush-inspired food available at affordable prices.”
Emphasising the importance of mindful nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, said, “The idea behind Prakriti Café is to bring the principles of Ayush closer to everyday life. A healthy lifestyle is built through simple and consistent choices, and mindful eating is an important part of that journey. We hope Prakriti Café will become a space that encourages healthy food habits, community, and a greater appreciation of India’s rich traditions of wholesome nutrition.”
The café offers a range of fresh and wholesome food options inspired by the Ayush Ahaar initiative, which seeks to promote nutritious dietary practices rooted in India’s traditional knowledge systems. The initiative also aims to create greater awareness about the importance of food and nutrition in supporting a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
The menu features a variety of nutritious preparations, including beetroot and oats cutlet, kosambari, millet dhokla, khandvi, oats poha, little millet vegetable upma and makhana kheer prepared with jaggery, along with refreshing options such as coconut water and herbal beverages including tulsi-ginger tea and green tea. The offerings reflect the principles of Ayush Ahaar by encouraging balanced, wholesome and nutritious food choices in everyday life.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials and employees of the Ministry of Ayush. The launch of Prakriti Café marks another step in the Ministry’s efforts to foster a workplace culture that promotes health, wellness, and mindful living by integrating the principles of Ayush with contemporary approaches to preventive healthcare.
