nutrition – The Goa Project Sessions

On a yellow background, a headline in large black type: Food for thought
Below, a subhead: The TGP Debate: Stronger regulation of food and nutrition influencers?
Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image.
In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

For our next TGP Sessions, we are introducing a new format: a debate. Think of this as one more way to spark interesting conversations. (This will not be our sole format going ahead. We will circle back to workshops, showcases and open platforms, and of course the short presentations that have been our regular fare since we launched the Sessions in the early lockdown era.)

Our first debate could not get more basic and universal. We are talking about food. And to narrow it down, food and nutrition influencers

It feels like every day, some person with thousands of followers (or hoping to get that many) is telling us not to eat this or drink that (or extolling the miraculous benefits of some other ingredient). And soon there would be someone saying just the opposite. Are these claims and counterclaims based on science? Do the people making them have any qualifications? To whom are they accountable?

Or to put it another way, should these folx be regulated by the government? Sounds like something you would like to sample? Please register here.

For the purposes of our debate, we are defining ‘food and nutrition influencers’ as anyone telling us what to eat and what not to. We are not including restaurant reviewers, folx who teach us recipes, or food historians

Per the guidelines recently prescribed by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI):
• Food influencers are free to offer general food and nutrition advice on SM;
• BUT only influencers with proper qualifications can give more specific, targeted information

Should this regulation be strengthened and apply even to general advice by food influencers?

Exploring the nuances of this proposition, we have:

On a green background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side.
On top, in a yellow rectangle: Debate
Below, the headline: Hold their tongues
Below, a subhead: Nutrition influencers need tighter regulation
Next, the session date: 27 July
Next, a circular windows with a portrait of person, head and shoulders, looking at camera
Next to that, the name: Monika Manchanda
And below that, a descriptor: Culinary writer, consultant, trainer
Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image.
In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Monika is a former tech professional with over a decade of expertise as a culinary writer, consultant, and trainer. She is widely recognised for designing innovative recipes and menus, as well as for her engaging culinary teaching. As co-founder and Chief Culinary Officer at LiveAltLife, Monika drives food and nutrition initiatives that champion healthier living, integrating practical culinary know-how with the latest in nutrition. Her passion lies in making the art of cooking accessible while guiding people toward balanced, healthful choices through inspired cuisine.

On an orange background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side.
On top, in a yellow rectangle: Debate
Below, the headline: No gags, please
Below, a subhead: We shouldn’t over-regulate nutrition influencers
Next, the session date: 27 July
Next, a circular windows with a portrait of person, head and shoulders, looking at camera
Next to that, the name: Karthik Srinivasan
And below that, a descriptor: communications strategy consultant
Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image.
In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Karthik is now a happily-independent communications strategy consultant after having participated in the full-time employment rat race for over 20 years across organisations like Flipkart, Ogilvy, and Edelman. He now consults clients on marketing and communications strategy, besides training corporate leaders, across organisations like Deloitte, Kotak, Accenture, Citrix, Akamai, EY, among others, on how to define, build, and maintain their personal brand on social media.