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Founders Note
Dear Customers and Supporters of Uyarthinai,
In 2009, I began conducting self-funded annual medical camps in rural villages near Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and Karaikal, Pondicherry, hoping to raise awareness of nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices to prevent diabetes, obesity, and other non-communicable diseases. With the help of local NGOs Kudumbam and Thiruvalluvar Education Trust, we conduct these camps for 4-5 days every summer, providing free diabetes screening and treatment for 300-500 patients.
To my surprise, I found insulin-requiring diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease frequently in these rural populations, despite the majority of them being underweight and only eating 1-2 meals per day. In digging deeper, I learned that their disease is caused by eating too much highly polished, low-fiber rice, which is provided to them for free or subsidized prices from the government via the Public Distribution System in lieu of fruits, vegetables, and unpolished high-fiber,high-protein grains such as millets. I was heartbroken to learn that people who do not have enough food to eat can still develop non-communicable diseases because of the lack of nutrition in the food provided to them and their sole dependence on these foods.
Overconsumption of polished rice and other carbohydrates (making up more than 75% of the average person’s daily calories) is one of the greatest reasons for the increased occurrence of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in Tamil Nadu. About 45 per cent of the population did not meet WHO recommendation for protein due to low intake of pulses, fresh foods and dairy products and more than half (57.1%) exceeded the limit of salt intake, 99% of the Tamil Nadu population is not meeting the WHO recommendations for protein, fruits, vegetables. To stop the vicious cycle of consumption of polished rice, we must eat more millet-based dishes and increase the demand for high-fiber, high-protein grains, to increase production and reduce the price of millets.
Thus, Uyarthinai was created. By developing millet-based recipes for our everyday dishes, without any of the additives used at other restaurants, we demonstrate that with the right recipe, we can choose healthy and nutritious food without sacrificing taste, time, or affordability. We can encourage families to adopt millets in their everyday lives, prevent health problems, and promote a healthy yet delicious lifestyle in our communities. We can be the change.
Thank you for supporting us in this ambitious cause.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5116883/
Dr. Bharathi Raju, M.D (USA).
Board Certified (USA) in Internal Medicine
Board Certified (USA) in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Board Certified (USA) in Obesity Medicine
mysocoendo.com
Welcome To Uyaarthinai Food
Uyarthinai is here to provide customers with millet-based, healthy, nutritious, and delicious food that appeals to taste buds of all ages.
We are headed by Dr. Bharathi Raju, M.D., who is currently running an endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity medicine practice in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Dr. Raju moved from India to the U.S. in 1995 and has been visiting India annually to conduct free medical camps in rural South India to educate people about diabetes and related health issues.
We create simple but tasty recipes of commonly eaten meals, prepared with high-quality ingredients including millets and vegetables. The quality and nutrition of our food is personally monitored by our Gourmet Consultant and Safety/Quality Assurance Officer, Mrs. Prasanna Ramesh, under the direct guidance of Dr. Bharathi Raju.
As our name indicates, the Uyarthinai team strives to offer the best quality, most hygienic food with good service at an affordable price. In order to further our mission of sharing healthy eating practices with all, we will regularly publish our recipes on our website so you can incorporate millets into your day-to-day diet at home.
Vision
To increase awareness of healthy eating habits in order to prevent non-communicable disease
Mission
To provide healthy homemade food to customers who are away from home and are required to buy meals.
To raise awareness about nutrition and the importance of healthy food to prevent non-communicable diseases (Like Diabetes, High blood pressure, Heart disease, Cancer and Obesity).
Our Team
Dr.Bharathi Raju, MD
Bharathi Raju, the Director and CEO of the company, started this business with the vision of providing healthy and affordable daily meals to the working population.
She is responsible for setting the overall direction, strategy, and vision of the business. Also responsible for making decisions about the restaurant's finances, marketing, and operations, and for ensuring that the restaurant is meeting its goals and objectives. She also plays a role in shaping the culture of the restaurant, setting the tone for the organization and leading the team to success.
Stewards
Our stewards are experts in customer service working tirelessly to ensure that clients are welcomed and attended to, that hygiene practices are followed and that the restaurant maintains a positive atmosphere.
Mrs. Kumari and Selvarani
Our kitchen team, assists in grocery inventory management, preparation of dough and vegetables as well as other main ingredients, and kitchen cleanliness.
Mr. Tom Sawyer and Mr.Shanmugam
Our Chefs brings several years of experience in South Indian cooking. He prepares Uyarthinai’s main dishes and trains other culinary staff in best practices for cooking and responding to orders promptly and efficiently.
Mr. Parasuraman
Our Manager, Mr. Parasuraman, takes responsibility for our restaurant’s daily operations and customer service, including staff management.
Mrs. Prasanna Ramesh
Mrs. Ramesh, our Gourmet Consultant and Safety/Quality Assurance Officer, was responsible for the unique taste and nutrition of each one of our dishes during the inital stages of this establishment.
Mr. G. Ramesh
Mr. Ramesh has been the biggest supporter of this ambitious project. His tireless efforts in business planning, location scouting, operations, and recruitment since the inception of our company have been invaluable in kickstarting our business.
Mrs. R. Vaduvambal
Mrs. Vaduvambal is the Director and COO of our company. With 35 years of experience starting and running various businesses, she has kindly agreed to join our team and pass her knowledge onto the next generation.
She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. She works closely with the CEO and other senior managers to develop and implement operational plans, ensure that the restaurant is running smoothly, and identify and address any operational issues or problems that arise. She is also responsible for managing the restaurant's staff, including hiring, training, and scheduling, and for ensuring that the restaurant is complying with all relevant regulations and standards. Also responsible for managing the restaurant's budget and finances, and for ensuring that the restaurant is profitable and financially sustainable over the long term.
Uyarthinai is also forever grateful for each independent civil/equipment/essential commodities contractor whose constant effort in providing safe and easy-to-use equipment and putting together the restaurant’s physical location has made Uyarthinai a reality, as well as HAPPY FOOD STREET Ambattur for providing us with our flagship space.
Finally, we are hugely indebted to the unconditional support of the family and friends of each and every team member, whose solidarity and trust in our mission strengthens our team every day!