SHEROES at Eatonomist

Anisha Dhar and Nupur Khanna founded Eatonomist with the sole aim of offering customers healthy yet tasty dining options. What they do is offer a new menu, every day ensuring that the food is both healthy and scrumptious.

We speak to both the founders today.

Tell us a little about yourselves.

Anisha: I grew up in Jammu. I got my degree in Computer Science engineering in 2006 from Bangalore. Subsequently, I worked with Ernst & Young Pvt. Ltd, PwC Consulting and KPMG. I always loved food, but it took 7 years of consulting to finally make me do something about it.

Nupur: Growing up in a traditional business family it was tough convincing everyone what I was doing in Ernst & Young, a natural stepping stone was starting my own venture. I went to a convent school in Delhi, graduated from IILM and then went to do my MA in University of Nottingham following an MBA from Rochester, USA. Post MBA I started work with EY as a consultant in the financial services sector.

How did the idea of Eatonomist come about?

Anisha: Nupur and I dealt with the corporate and peer pressure of staying fit for 7 years. We loved eating out and lunch was the highlight of our work day. That surely does tell you a lot about us. Everyday we would look out for healthy things to eat for lunch and end up finding the same 2 or 3 boring options. We thought that it would be so great to have a place that would offer a new menu each day with healthy dishes that tasted good. We discussed it with family and friends, and then finally went ahead and booked a domain name!

Nupur: Eatonomist is narrowing the gap between sinful eating and crash dieting. Working in a corporate made us realize that ‘healthy’ lunch options existing in the market were boring or not so healthy. We wanted to address the market that wanted to eat good food sans the calorific intake, so was born Eatonomist.

What do both of you individually bring to the table of the venture?

Anisha: Although, we have our roles defined, it is difficult to remember if we ever adhered to them. So many times, either of us will naturally take the lead in a certain scenario and the other one will blindly follow. I think that is what works best for us.

Nupur: I think both of us wear many hats like any entrepreneur does and there are no specific areas that can be pin pointed, we solve each other’s problems and come up with solutions that would benefit the business.

What is an average work day like for you?

Anisha: At this time, I would say that everyday is a different challenge and a different lesson. You’re slowed down by a new challenge and then suddenly, you have a solution to it. So, except for a few daily tasks, each day takes you to a different scenario.

Nupur: Full of adrenaline and adventure, every day brings exciting challenges

What are the main objectives of Eatonomist?

Anisha: Eatonomist is more than just healthy food. It’s a way of life. We are here to provide good quality, fresh, tasty, gourmet food made healthy by innovative recipes and portion control. I would say that the main objective of Eatonomist would be to keep serving Awesome, honest and healthy food without cutting corners.

Nupur: Make the world a healthier place! We want people to realize the potential of portion controlled eating habits and make a conscious move to eating healthy. It will take time we know but we are at it and we don’t plan to give up.

What future plans do you have for the venture?

Anisha: Unhealthy food is a big, big, big market. We have just about started. The future plan is to win the war against unhealthy food. It will take some time, but, we will get there!

Nupur: Future plans – We believe in doing one thing at a time and doing it well! Expansion is definitely on the cards along with various product lines in the future.

Any thoughts for our readers out there?

Anisha: Have a dream! Have a plan! Have a healthy meal, and then have a go at your dream!

Nupur: Be a dreamer! Aim for the stars! Eat right, eat healthy! 

Entrepreneurship versus a high paying corporate job. What are your thoughts on it?

Anisha: Entrepreneurship! Any day! Your learning curve in a job is limited to what someone else has set out for you. Out here in the ocean, you learn to row, to swim, to hunt, to catch, to cook, to survive! And when you’re done, the current changes, so you began to learn again!

Nupur: The high paying corporate job will make you realize your wants, the entrepreneur in you makes you realize your needs. There is a big difference in a need and a want. I think after some time the salary ceases to matter as much as personal triumph and growth. Entrepreneurship helps you in achieving the latter and the money aspect kicks in later which then becomes the added advantage.