Smriti, appreciate you joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

When I was 13, my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Watching him struggle with daily blood sugar checks and strict dietary changes opened my eyes to how important good nutrition is. Now, at 16, I’m using that experience to help others understand nutrition better.

My most heartwarming moment came when I read my children’s nutrition book at a local elementary school. Weeks later, I received handwritten cards from the students, filled with questions and excitement about healthy eating. Seeing their genuine enthusiasm for learning about nutrition showed me that even small efforts to share knowledge can make a meaningful difference in young lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a 16-year-old student who became passionate about nutrition education after my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Seeing him manage his condition made me realize how important good nutrition knowledge is, especially for young people.

I started a blog called BiteBalanced where I try to make nutrition science easier for other teens to understand. It’s grown to over 60,000 views, which shows me there are many young people looking for this kind of information. I also wrote a children’s nutrition book, Ella Eats: Discovering Healthy Choices, that I’ve read to local elementary school children, helping them learn about healthy eating in a fun way.

Currently, I’m working with my school district’s nutrition committee to add overnight oats to our breakfast menu. I believe small changes like this can make a big difference in students’ daily lives. I also run a podcast called “Digesting the Truth” with a Georgetown University professor, where we bust myths in nutrition.

What makes my work different is that I’m a teenager speaking to other young people about nutrition. I understand their concerns and can explain things in a way that makes sense to them. I’m most proud of how I’ve turned my worry about my dad’s health into something positive that helps others learn about nutrition.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was thinking that healthy eating meant giving up my favorite cultural foods. Social media is so clouded with posts about healthy eating that only showed things like quinoa bowls and kale smoothies. This made me feel like I had to choose between eating healthy and enjoying my family’s traditional dishes.

As I learned more about nutrition, I realized I was completely wrong. Many traditional Indian foods are actually really nutritious. Now, when I write my blog posts or talk to other young people about healthy eating, I always make sure to emphasize that being healthy doesn’t mean giving up your cultural foods. Rather, it’s about finding balance and appreciating all kinds of wholesome foods.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

In all of my nutrition education work, I’ve found that keeping things simple and relatable is most important. When I write blog posts or talk to students, I focus on explaining nutrition in ways that people can easily understand and apply to their daily lives. I use simple language and try to connect nutrition concepts to foods people already know and enjoy. I’ve learned that clear communication helps people better understand and actually use the information. My goal is to help prevent others from facing chronic health issues like my dad by making nutrition knowledge accessible to everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.notion.so/Smriti-Mia-Mehta-ac016894e0fc40738d1f643d671410d9?pvs=4
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/smriti-mehta-471651271
• Other: TV Interview – https://youtu.be/TNFDVDDc4SQ
  TEDx Talk – https://youtu.be/zij0XMWxR1A?si=qZ2eOWcS0PsfHmpP