India is currently facing a serious health crisis – an obesity epidemic that’s growing bigger every year. According to a new Lancet study, by 2050, nearly one-third of the country’s population is expected to be obese. That’s 218 million men and 231 million women battling weight-related health issues. With lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and hypertension on the rise, conversations around healthier food habits are more important than ever.
Amidst this growing concern, Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds, has made a practical and much-needed suggestion to help curb the obesity problem, especially when it comes to eating out. She proposed that restaurants across India should introduce a ‘half plate’ option for all their meals.
“Many of us eat small portions, and eat a little extra because we as Indians don’t like to waste food. Sharing is not always an option when ordering individually. Price the half meals at more than 50% of the full meal, if that makes economic sense,” she wrote on X.
Have a look at her full post here:
I am glad we are talking about obesity as a problem so widely. It is critical.
There are many solutions to this – alternative grains-sugars, healthier foods, eating at home, and many others that doctors, nutritionists suggest.
I have one basic suggestion to restaurants -…
— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) April 4, 2025
This simple change, if widely adopted, could actually make a big difference. For people trying to eat healthy or manage their weight, having a smaller portion option could help them stick to their goals. Often, it’s not about unhealthy food, but how much we’re eating. And in a culture where cleaning your plate is considered polite, people often force themselves to finish more than they need.
Several people online gave a thumbs-up to this suggestion and hoped that similar practices would be implemented soon. Here’s what some of them said about the post by Radhika Gupta:
i have seen two – three restaurants in ahmedabad doing the same, also my recent visit to bangkok i have observed that some of the local indian restaurants have done the same. half plate at half prices too 🙂
— Manan Mankad (@mananmankad) April 4, 2025
Its a practical advice – admirable one. We need it. Apart , restaurants can promote idea of food bank – to be maintained by contributions of guests. It shall improve the footfall too leading to better commercials.
— Sanjay Kumar PMP® PMI ACP® (@ksanjay69) April 5, 2025
Imagine menus where the default is reasonably portioned, and ‘upsizing’ is opt-in.
We’ve done it with coffee—why not meals?
Small changes, big health dividends!
— Anooshka Soham Bathwal (@anooshkabathwal) April 4, 2025
Excellent suggestion about half plates.
Have actually told restaurant owners to do it. Have said this often on Twitter.In Unlimited Thali joints, can we also have limited thalis?
In (unlimited) Buffet joints — can we have limited (one serving) buffets.
— Guru (@KamathGurudutt) April 7, 2025
Taking leftovers home should become a norm, it can be a second meal option.
You get value for your money spent & nothing gets wasted.— Poortini (@Poortini2) April 7, 2025
Traditionally, in north India, half plate was a norm, as restaurants or dhabas were run for providing routine diet to people. Whereas these days eating out is more for amusement, or out of boredom, than for filling up the tummy.
— seeker (@SharadMohan12) April 5, 2025
It’s a win-win situation – better health, less food waste, and more thoughtful dining. In the long run, such small changes could contribute to a larger shift in how we think about food and our health.