Influencers Debate India’s Protein Requirements

There is a battle brewing, though not the one you might see on television. This one is unfolding on your smartphones, focusing on an unexpected topic: protein consumption.

If you haven’t been following the online discussions, here’s a brief overview. On April 1, Rujuta Diwekar, a celebrity health and wellness influencer, shared a video aimed at addressing a common concern among many of her 1.8 million Instagram followers—particularly parents whose children encourage them to enhance their protein intake. In a phrase that mirrors a well-known argument in the pro-choice movement, Diwekar suggested that parents should disregard their children’s dietary advice—including initiatives to incorporate protein, collagen, creatine, omega-3, and prebiotics—until they have experienced the demands of preparing meals for multiple people daily. “Bachha hain, bada hone do [He’s a child, let him grow up],” she concluded.