Initiated in 2014, Cook for a Smile (CFS) is a unique initiative by Smile Foundation, which brings together top corporate honchos, industry leaders and celebrities from diverse fields together to cook, contest and raise support for the nutrition of less privileged children.
Each leader is joined by one kid from Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centres, which brings in the zest in the competition. Michelin starred Chef Vikas Khanna hosts the CFS events, as Goodwill Ambassador for Smile Foundation’s ‘Nutrition for Education’ campaign.
Cook for a Smile is also an effort to sensitize the privileged society and make it an active partner in bringing positive change in the lives of the marginalized.
Chef Vikas Khanna is an award winning, Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India.
Chef Vikas Khanna is an award winning, Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India.
After his graduation from the prestigious Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Vikas went on to train under renowned chefs of Taj Group of Hotels, Oberois, Leela Group, and many more. He has studied at the Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University and New York University and the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.
Vikas has authored several books, including “The Spice Story of India” and “Modern Indian Cooking”. On July 29, 2011, Vikas hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities Conference held at the White House organized by Anju Bhargava, who is a member of President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership.
Khanna has received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from Just One Break, Inc. previously received by Christopher Reeve and Ray Charles.
8 million children in India are out of school. Childhood is said to be the best part of one’s life – but for these kids, surrounded by poverty, hunger and hopelessness; many of them not even getting a single full meal in a day – a happy childhood is a distant dream.
8 million children in India are out of school. Childhood is said to be the best part of one’s life – but for these kids, surrounded by poverty, hunger and hopelessness; many of them not even getting a single full meal in a day – a happy childhood is a distant dream. Going to school and getting an education is the first step they can take towards a better life – but this is not a possibility when survival stares them in the face.
More than half of the children in India are malnourished. A malnourished child, prone to all sorts of illnesses, is unable to perform well at school. Even if they get enrolled in school, most of these children drop out soon enough owing to perpetual health problems.
Malnourishment thus also leads to extremely low levels of literacy. In case of girl children, it becomes an excuse for parents to take them out of school and push them into household duties and early marriage. Malnourishment and illiteracy are in effect the social evils in our society today, which are slowly eating away its very being.
Michelin starred Chef Vikas Khanna has joined the cause with all his heart and is continuously promoting the Smile’s campaign “Nutrition for Education” to sensitize people from all walks of life. The campaign aims to provide nutrition to underprivileged children, helping them get not only better health, but also better education.
