Food Culture

My name is Nimmi and I am the proud father of Zane. Growing up in South India, I was always curious about the world around me, drawn to spiritual teachings and the pursuit of knowledge. After finishing my catering studies, I worked in various five-star hotels in India and even had the opportunity to work in the royal family cooking team in Dubai.

In 2004, I moved to Australia where I continued to work in various restaurants and pubs. Life was good, but everything changed when my son Zane was born in 2014. Zane was diagnosed with autism and had a specific condition called echolalia, where he would imitate and mimic everything someone he trusted would do.

Growing up in an average income household in India, food was one constant way of happiness. But like many of us, I had my own struggles with unhealthy eating habits and an undiagnosed eating disorder. Zane's diagnosis was a wake-up call for me. I knew I needed to make changes not just for myself, but for my son and for other families like mine.

As Zane mimicked everything I did, I needed to change my actions immediately. I quit my job and took work in childcare so I could be closer to him. While working in daycare, I noticed that many parents were struggling to feed their children healthy meals. I realized that there was a significant gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

That's when I combined my passion for personal development and my culinary skills to create a healthy eating and lifestyle program for families and children. I named it Nourish Minds and Bodies: The Healthy Eating Program for Children.

My mission is to bridge the gap between knowing and doing when it comes to healthy eating by connecting food, the body, and the mind. I have studied hypnosis, NLP, and child nutrition to further understand this connection and make a positive impact on the lives of families and children.

As Zane's father, I know firsthand the challenges that come with raising a child with special needs. But with Nourish Minds and Bodies, I am committed to helping not just Zane, but other parents and families facing challenges when it comes to healthy eating. By teaching children the importance of nourishing their bodies and minds, we can change the way we think about rewards and treats.

As Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." With Nourish Minds and Bodies, I am giving back by creating a program that can positively impact the lives of families and children for years to come. Let's nourish our minds and bodies together.