Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Why healthy Asian food kits can be recipe for success

Why healthy Asian food kits can be recipe for success

Sakshi Chabbra Mittal thought she was health-conscious. She ate well, worked out regularly and meditated everyday.

So it came as huge shock when during her first pregnancy she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease which can be linked to premature or stillbirths.


Told by doctors that there was no known cause for her ailment, the mother-of-two decided to she would try and find out the cause herself.

644A1741 Mittal is hands on with all FoodHak's dishes.

This journey of self-discovery led her to create FoodHak, a clinically approved, meal delivery service that sources the highest quality vegan ingredients to create delicious meal plans, packed with medicinal qualities.

“When I developed the rare liver breakdown called obstetric cholestasis, I found out it comes back with a vengeance in your second pregnancy and it’s much harder to control. That’s when I got into the clinical research of food,” Mittal tells Eastern Eye.

The 35-year-old has a Biotechnology degree from the University of Birmingham and an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“I've been an investor in biotechnology, in food sciences, life sciences for a long time so it was easy for me to dive into this and find clinical data on food.

"I realised that it was strong enough to reverse diseases, prevent diseases, maintain diseases, but the food we are surrounded by today is absolutely wrong, it’s pushing all of us only in one direction, which is that of chronic diseases. We don't have our health in our own control,” says Mittal, who has worked for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and SoftBank.

An estimated 90,000 deaths in the UK each year are attributed to poor diet - 11 million globally - with many diseases originating in the gut.

Having read the clinical research, Mittal decided she would change her diet to ensure she didn’t get obstetric cholestasis in her second pregnancy. Not only did she not get it, she also found her health transformed. She slept better, had more energy, and her family’s level of immunity went up with her toddler not catching any colds or infections for over a year.

With the success she personally experienced, the idea for FoodHak - which stands for Healthy Asian Kitchen - was born.

“I identified a few doctors who practice lifestyle medicine and who really believed food can be your medicine and started working with them on creating a line of food that was more health focused. Food that is low GI, anti-inflammatory, alkaline, free from gluten, dairy, refined sugar and all plant based.”

final 1877

FoodHak combines clinical research data and technology to build recipes and a personalised nutrition tool for consumers wanting to change their diet.

UK-wide subscribers, who are growing by 25 per cent every week, receive a weekly box with premium, ready-to-eat meals for the week, clinically approved by nutritionists.

“These are meal plans which harness the power of medicine. There is a global health crisis and many deaths could be prevented with the right diet. This has been brought closer into focus by the pandemic where nations with obesity problems have been hit particularly hard.

“The food we are surrounded by is wrong and is pushing us towards developing chronic diseases. Given the choice between eating delicious, affordable, natural medicinal foods with no side effects versus popping multiple, expensive pills every day with numerous side effects –which one would you choose?”

print 13261

While at the moment they do generic healthy meals, later this month, FoodHak will launch meal plans targeted at specific groups, such as a prenatal, postnatal plan and a weight loss plan. And further down the road, the goal is to create meals for specific individuals based on their age, gender, health goals and any illnesses they my have.

“We select only the highest-quality ingredients and source spices and aromatics renowned for their healing properties. Many of our ingredients are high in alkalinity, have anti-inflammatory properties, and promote healthy levels of biomarkers like cholesterol and blood glucose, therefore helping you live in an era of preventative medicine.

“I changed my diet, turned vegan and it changed my life and health. With FoodHak I want to inspire others to do the same, to feel healthier and hopefully extend their lives.”

Mittal is married to Shravin Mittal - son of Indian telecoms billionaire Sunil Mittal. But despite her family’s wealth, the self-confessed “workaholic”, puts in 13-hour days at FoodHak’s North Acton base, working with staff, including chefs and health practitioners, to develop the business

“I’m from a family of entrepreneurs on both sides, my husband's family, and my family. I've seen my own father (a textile businessman) build something out of nothing. Same thing with my father in law. Even at this age, even after building a very successful business empire, he still works really hard.”

A talented entrepreneur in her own right, Mittal’s business secured a $5m (£3.8m) investment last month from a group of businesses, which included firstminute Capital, whose owner is Brent Hoberman, co-founder of lastminute.com and Made.com.

print 12971

“I am delighted to bring on board a wide spectrum of investors who believe in the power of food science and want to help fuel this food revolution,” Mittal said. “It’s a great testimony to the product, too.”

The investment, Mittal hopes, will see FoodHak expand their reach to a global audience.

Post-COVID-19 forecasts suggest food and beverage online penetration is expected to grow from 3 per cent to 8 per cent by 2025. The meal kit delivery market is worth about $8 billion but growing and estimated to reach $20 billion within three years.

“We are mission driven company. We're not just any other meal delivery company. We want to give you control of your own health in your own hands. I have cholesterol running in my family. I don't have any issues today but I want to make sure that I don't have any cholesterol related issues in the future. I want that control in my hands and we want the masses to have this control in their hands.

print 12662 1

“We started out with a subscription model. In the future, we want to move into retail where people can buy meals online because the idea is for everybody to be able to access this kind of food.

"There's seven billion mouths to feed and in the next five years, once we’ve done a good job in the UK, we want to expand internationally.

"We would love to go to the US, you know, that's a great market. We want to go to Europe, to South Asia. The idea is to try and change the food we are all surrounded by.”

More For You

“Why can’t I just run?”: A south Asian woman’s harrowing harassment story

Minreet with her mother

“Why can’t I just run?”: A south Asian woman’s harrowing harassment story

I was five years old when my parents first signed me up for a mini marathon. They were both keen runners and wanted me to follow in their footsteps. At the time, I hated it. Running felt like punishment — exhausting, uncomfortable, and something I never imagined I’d do by choice.

But one moment changed everything. I was 12, attending a gymnastics competition, and had gone to the car alone to grab my hula hoop. As I walked back, a group of men started shouting at me. They moved closer. I didn’t wait to hear what they had to say — I ran. Fast. My heart was pounding. It was the first time I felt afraid simply for existing in public as a young girl. I never told anyone. But I remember feeling thankful, strangely, that my parents had taught me how to run.

Keep ReadingShow less
Charithra Chandran Wimbledon

Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance

Instagram/charithra17/Twitter/charithra files

Charithra Chandran brings ‘Bridgerton’ elegance to Wimbledon in timeless Ralph Lauren look

Highlights:

  • Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
  • Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
  • Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
  • The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.

Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.

 Charithra Chandran Wimbledon Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/

Keep ReadingShow less
Amazon Prime Day 2025

Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members

iStock

Prime Day 2025 brings huge discounts on electronics including Apple, Samsung, Sony and more

Highlights

  • Amazon Prime Day runs until 11 July, with major savings on electronics
  • Apple AirPods Pro 2, iPad 11th-gen, and MacBook Air M4 hit all-time low prices
  • Samsung Galaxy phones, Sony headphones and Fire TV devices also see deep cuts
  • Prime Day is exclusive to Amazon Prime members, but free trial users can also access deals

Biggest electronics sale of the year

Amazon’s four-day Prime Day 2025 event has delivered a flood of deals on popular electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, headphones and more. Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members, though new users can sign up for a 30-day free trial to access the discounts.

As part of this year’s event, several top-rated products from Apple, Samsung, Sony and Amazon itself have seen some of their lowest-ever prices. According to The Independent’s senior tech critic Alex Lee, “Apple discounts are notoriously rare — but this Prime Day is a clear exception.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Hermes Birkin handbag

The handbag is now the most valuable ever sold at auction

Reuters

Hermes Birkin handbag fetches record £7.4m at Paris auction

Highlights:

  • The original Hermes Birkin bag sold for £7.4m at Sotheby’s Paris.
  • It belonged to British actress and singer Jane Birkin.
  • The handbag is now the most valuable ever sold at auction.
  • It ranks as the second most expensive fashion item sold globally.

A record-breaking sale

The original Hermes Birkin handbag, once owned by British actress and singer Jane Birkin, has been sold for £7.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris, setting a new world record for the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction.

The sale, held on Thursday, saw the iconic fashion item exceed all expectations, with Sotheby’s calling it “a startling demonstration of the power of a legend.” The bag is now also the second most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction, following the £24 million paid for Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz in 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barbie with type 1 diabetes

This is also part of Mattel’s mission to extend the boundaries of imaginative play

Mattel

Mattel introduces first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes to promote inclusion

Highlights

  • Mattel launches new Barbie with type 1 diabetes
  • The doll features a glucose monitor, insulin pump and CGM app
  • Created in collaboration with type 1 diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D
  • Part of Mattel’s broader push for inclusivity and representation in toys

Barbie with type 1 diabetes joins inclusive fashionistas range

Mattel has launched its first diabetes Barbie doll, designed to represent children with type 1 diabetes and promote greater inclusivity in children’s toys.

The new addition to the Barbie Fashionistas line comes with realistic medical features including a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on her arm, secured with heart-shaped medical tape, and an insulin pump to help manage her blood sugar levels. She also carries a smartphone with a CGM app to monitor glucose throughout the day, and a bag large enough to store snacks and other essentials.

Keep ReadingShow less