Tanisha Bawa: From studying law in London to building a nutrition practice in India with US certifications

(Aug 11, 2026) From litigating at the Delhi High Court to becoming a nutrition and health coach, Tanisha Bawa turned her own health challenges while studying in India and law in London into a new career. With nutrition certification from National Academy of Sports Medicine, USA, and advanced training in gut health from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, USA, she founded the health and wellness platform TAN | 365 to help people use nutrition and lifestyle to live healthier, happier lives.

From New Delhi to London and back to India, Tanisha Bawa’s journey has crossed disciplines, cultures and conventional career paths. Her academic journey began at Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi and Queen Mary University of London, followed by a career in litigation. It was, however, a personal health challenge during law school that eventually shifted her focus towards nutrition and lifestyle.

Today, Tanisha brings together her international learning, Indian roots and experience of working with more than 1,000 people to build a health and wellness practice around the philosophy of making nutrition smart, simple, and sustainable. Her work spans gut health, hormone health, IBS, IBD, autoimmune conditions, blood sugar management, fertility, preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum nutrition.

Where food was always part of life

Tanisha comes from the family behind Moti Mahal, known for creating culinary favourites such as the Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Chicken Pakora and Dal Makhni. Naturally, growing up food was always an important part of her life, not just as something they enjoyed together as a family, but as something that brought people together.

“Looking back, I think that early exposure planted the first seeds of my appreciation for food, although I never imagined it would one day become my profession,” she smiles in chat with The Global Indian.

Talking about the time when she was pursuing law, she says, “At the time, I was passionate about justice and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, which naturally led me towards a career in law. During law school, however, I developed PCOS and experienced my own health challenges. Like many women, I was advised to rely on medication, but I became curious about whether I could improve my health by changing my lifestyle. That journey opened my eyes to the incredible impact that nutrition, movement, sleep, and daily habits can have on our overall wellbeing,” she says.

Although she completed her law degree and began practising as a litigating lawyer, that personal experience planted a seed that would eventually change the course of her career and life.

When law gave way to nutrition

Part of this was fuelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the world slowed down, it gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I truly wanted to do. I realised there was a significant gap between nutrition and the way people lived their lives. Healthcare often focused on treating illness rather than preventing it, and I wanted to be part of changing that conversation.

Tanisha Bawa

That led her to study functional nutrition through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) based in Ohio, and NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) at Gilbert, Arizona. It also led to the birth of TAN | 365, a health and wellness practice built around the  philosophy of making nutrition smart, simple, and sustainable, while helping people understand that food can be one of our greatest tools for preventing disease and improving quality of life.

The transition was not simply from one profession to another. It was a shift in the way she thought about health itself. Her own experience had made her curious about the relationship between everyday habits and long-term wellbeing, and that curiosity eventually became the foundation of her work.

From one client to a growing practice

As she worked with more clients, she realised that many chronic health concerns stemmed from imbalances in gut health and hormones. She went on to pursue advanced education in these areas, and today her work focuses on both preventive and therapeutic nutrition.

“I specialise in gut health, hormone health, IBS, IBD, autoimmune conditions, blood sugar management, fertility, preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum nutrition. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping more than 1,000 people transform their health through personalised nutrition and sustainable lifestyle changes,” she explains.

As the practice grew, so did the team. What started with just her has grown into a team of dedicated nutritionists who share the same mission and passion for helping people live healthier lives.

Alongside the practice, Tanisha also saw another gap. “I founded EAT by TAN | 365 after recognising another gap in the market. I wanted to create products that allowed people to enjoy indulgent foods without compromising on health,” she says.

The venture extends her approach beyond consultations, bringing her philosophy of health and nutrition into products that people can incorporate into everyday life.

What the world taught her

Living and studying abroad gave her a much broader perspective on life. It taught her independence, resilience, and adaptability, but perhaps more importantly, it taught her the value of being open to different ways of thinking.

“Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds helped me become more curious, more accepting of different perspectives, and more willing to keep learning. It reminded me that there is never just one way of doing something, and that growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.”

At the same time, living away from home made her appreciate India even more. It deepened her respect for Indian traditions, food, and strong sense of community. Today, she feel fortunate to bring together those global experiences with her Indian roots, both in the way she leads her businesses and in the way she approaches nutrition.

Living abroad taught her independence, resilience, and adaptability. It pushed her outside her comfort zone and gave her the confidence to embrace change.

Those experiences have also shaped the way she makes decisions. They gave her the confidence to take an unconventional path, leave behind a successful career in law, and build something that was deeply aligned with her purpose. “Looking back, I believe that willingness to embrace change has been one of the most valuable lessons of my journey,” she says.

The leap that had to be taken

One of the biggest challenges she faced was making the decision to leave a career in law and pursue nutrition. To many people, it seemed like an unconventional move, but she had a vision that she believed in deeply.

“At the time, very few people could understand why I would leave a stable profession for an entirely different field. Looking back today, I’m grateful that I trusted my instincts and stayed committed to my purpose. The impact I’ve been able to create over the years has been the greatest validation of that decision,” she opines.

Like many entrepreneurs, building credibility was another challenge. Success didn’t happen overnight. It took years of consistently showing up, staying evidence-based, earning her clients’ trust, and letting results speak louder than marketing.

“Over time, that commitment opened doors to opportunities to share my work on larger platforms. That experience taught me that credibility isn’t something you claim; it’s something you build patiently over time.”

Learning to wear every hat

Running a business also meant wearing every hat imaginable. “In the early days, I wasn’t just a nutritionist. I was learning social media, marketing, client care, operations, accounts, taxation, and everything in between. Every challenge became an opportunity to develop a new skill, and those experiences gave me a much deeper appreciation of what it truly takes to build a business from the ground up,” she adds.

The journey from a solo practice to a growing team also changed her understanding of leadership. The experience of building the business taught her that growth is not only about acquiring expertise but also about developing systems and people who can carry the mission forward.

That lesson became even more significant in 2025, when she became a mother to a baby girl “It made me a more empathetic leader and deepened my understanding of the women and families I support every day. Through every stage of my journey, one lesson has remained constant: growth always requires stepping outside your comfort zone,” she says.

Redefining what success means

Over the years, her idea of success has also changed. “Today, success isn’t just about building a business; it’s about building something meaningful. It’s about creating a positive impact, empowering my team to grow, helping people live healthier lives, and continuing to learn and evolve with every stage of life. Those are the aspirations that continue to drive me every day,” she says.

This is also why her biggest advice to young entrepreneurs would be to have the courage to follow your purpose, even if you can’t see the entire road ahead.

“Not every decision will make sense to the people around you, and that’s okay. If you truly believe in what you’re building, trust your instincts, keep your faith strong, tune out the noise, and focus on the work. I also believe that consistency is one of the most underrated qualities of a successful entrepreneur. There are no overnight successes,” she says.

Beyond the business

Outside of work, her greatest joy is spending time with her family, especially with her daughter, who has brought a completely new perspective to her life. “I also enjoy staying active and challenging myself physically. Now, I’m training for HYROX, which has been a fun way to push my limits and remind myself of the importance of practising what I preach. Fitness, for me, isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency and feeling strong, both physically and mentally,” she adds.

She also loves travelling and exploring new places through their food. For someone whose professional life is built around nutrition, food remains much more than a clinical subject. It continues to connect her with her family background, her Indian roots and her curiosity about different cultures.

Making prevention part of the conversation

Likewise, giving back has always been an important part of her journey. Whether it’s educating people about preventive health, speaking at industry forums, sharing practical nutrition knowledge on social media, or helping individuals take charge of their health, she believes knowledge has the power to create lasting change.

If I can inspire even one person to make healthier choices and improve their quality of life, I feel I’ve made a meaningful difference.

Tanisha Bawa

She hopes to contribute to a shift where people move away from the mindset of reaching for a pill for every ill and instead recognise the incredible power of nutrition and lifestyle in preventing disease, supporting recovery, and improving quality of life.

For Tanisha Bawa, the journey from litigation to nutrition has ultimately been about following a question that began with her own health experience and grew into a larger purpose. What started as a personal exploration of food, movement, sleep and daily habits has evolved into a growing practice, a team, a product venture and a mission to make preventive health more accessible and sustainable.

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