Nourish to Flourish

Serving hot, healthy lunches to children during holidays since 2019

 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK has until now served over 600,000 hot, nutritious, vegetarian lunches to children at holiday clubs across London boroughs with its Nourish to Flourish initiative.

 

 
 
 


The problem of holiday hunger among children has gathered substantial attention in 2020, given the impact of COVID-19 on financially weak families. It is estimated that 3 million children face food poverty in the UK. In London alone, around 700,000 children face hunger during school holidays due to lack of free school meals, according to the Mayor of London's 2018 report.

Childhood hunger leads to profound adverse outcomes in terms of long-term physical, educational, and financial achievements. With so many people in crisis, The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK felt that it was necessary to utilise its unique perspective and experience and apply this to the UK scenario.

 

What are the beneficiaries saying?

Hot food makes me feel like I have a full stomach, rather than having sandwiches because it makes me feel I have not eaten enough

Laura, Year 7

'It seems like instead of something easy; you take time to make it,' 'Eating a different fruit every day is good'

George, Year 7

All boroughs would benefit from this offer of healthy eating, hot meals, and vegetarian food

Androulla, Head of Creative Learning, Half Moon Theatre, London

Recipes of our most popular dishes

Tomato & Basil Pasta
Mexican Rice
Vegetable Spaghetti
Tomato & Basil Pasta


Ingredients

  • Pasta
  • Peeled tomato
  • Mix Herbs
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Oil
  • Butter
  • Black pepper powder
  • Turmeric powder
  • Paprika powder
  • Ginger
  • Coriander
  • Basil powder
  • Basil Fresh
  • Green Pees
  • Corn
  • Mix pepper
  • Carrot
  • Broccoli
  • Courgette


Method

  1. Boil the water with oil and salt. Once the water starts boiling add pasta and cook for 10 minutes. Pasta should cook up to 70 to 80% only.
  2. Drain the hot water add cold water and drain this cold water as well. This is to stop cooking pasta.
  3. Method for cooking Sauce: Add Butter and oil to a pan and wait to melt. Add ginger, and vegetables, except pepper. Add Tomato paste and wait for it to boil. Finally add salt, and spices and in the end, add pepper.
  4. Mix the pasta and sauce together and freshly serve the dish.
 
Mexican Rice


Ingredients

  • Rice
  • Mix bell Pepper
  • Green Peas
  • Red Kidney Beans
  • Sweet corn
  • Tomato Puree
  • Paprika
  • Black pepper powder
  • Cumin Powder
  • Mix Herb
  • Carrot
  • Sugar
  • Salt


Method

  1. Heat oil in a pot and add tomato paste, and chopped tomatoes (on medium heat, stirring constantly)
  2. Add paprika and cumin and stir-fry for a further minute.
  3. Add beans, peppers and salt to the mixture.
  4. Bring to a boil, add rice and cook until the rice is cooked.
 
Vegetable Spaghetti


Ingredients

  • Spaghetti
  • Peeled tomato
  • Mix Herbs
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Oil
  • Butter
  • Black pepper powder
  • Paprika powder
  • Ginger
  • Coriander
  • Green Pees
  • Corn
  • Mix pepper
  • Carrot
  • Broccoli


Method

  1. Boil the water with oil and salt. Add Spaghetti and cook for 10 minutes. Spaghetti should cook up 70 to 80% only.
  2. Drain the hot water and add cold water and drain this cold water. This is to stop cooking Spaghetti.
  3. Method for cooking Sauce: Add Butter and oil to a pan and wait for the butter to melt. Add ginger, and vegetables, except pepper. Add tomato paste and wait to boil. Add salt and spices and in the end, add pepper.
  4. Mix the Spaghetti and sauce together and freshly serve the dish.
 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FOOD PROVISIONS

 

Akshaya Patra is the winner of
BBC's Global Food Champion Award 2019

 

Akshaya Patra is the winner of BBC's Global Food Champion Award 2019 

Support our Nourish to Flourish initiative by feeding hot meals to a child in need

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