Focus is on English-medium, private schools of Pune region for Eat Right initiative; offi cials say 60% of kids statewide are not consuming healthy menus at schools and colleges, move to combat rising obesity, diabetes
After several months of inspections, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now started shooting off letters to schools and colleges, asking them to clean up their menus to ensure students are eating better — an activity the latter claim they are only too happy to comply with. Interestingly, in Pune region, officials found a large number of private English-medium schools have students who insist on consuming junk food, and the demand ensures that canteens and caterers, as well as tiffins from parents, all stock the same. In keeping with this observation, parents are now also to be counseled about good nutrition in the dabbas they provide.
Under the Eat Right campaign launched in June 2019 by FDA — making Maharashtra the first state to implement such a drive — it was alarmingly found that over 60 per cent of schoolchildren are eating high calorie food, with many lunchboxes full of items high in fat, salt and sugar.
The move to encourage safe and nutritious food was prompted to combat the rising trend of obesity and diabetes in the next-generation demographic.
Letters issued by officials to schools and colleges ask them to ban ‘high fat/ sugar/ salt’ food and create healthier, more wholesome menus. Further, they direct institutions to form food committees comprising their principal, teachers and parents of students, all of whom can together work on the modifications as per FDA guidelines. These rules state that school/college canteens and caterers should avoid pizzas, burgers, chips, junk food, cakes, biscuits, sweets, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, vada pavs, instant noodles, food with more than 30 per cent sugar content, etc. Instead, the focus is to shift to cereals, vegetables, salads, chapati, daliya, rotis, parathas and more.
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State FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade told Mirror, “The situation is similar across the state, and almost 60 per cent of students consume unhealthy food. Our initiative aims to tackle rising obesity and diabetes in this demographic. Besides institutes, parents will also be counselled and involved.”
During visits in Pune region alone, FDA dashed off letters to over 955 schools and colleges to change their menus, with several private English-medium schools on the list. These include names like Orchid School in Baner, DAV Public School in Aundh, Symbiosis School of International Studies in Viman Nagar, Rabindranath Tagore School of Excellence in Balewadi, Modern High School in Ganeshkhind, MIT Vishwa Shanti Gurukul at Loni Kalbhor, and many others. Explaining this spotlight, Suresh Deshmukh, joint FDA commissioner (Pune region), said, “We noticed that many kids in these places seemed fond of junk food, but we have asked them to eliminate it all from canteen menus. The insistence of kids leads parents to give them such food in tiffins, too. Such parents are being counselled about correct eating habits for the health of their progeny.”
Families seemed ready to comply. Meera Dilip, whose child studies at Euro School in Wakad, agreed that the involvement of parents in food committees will lead to a better outcome and benefits for children. “Earlier as well, we had opposed food served in the school canteen and demanded that its nutritive value be checked. There is no track on the canteen menu or what children get in lunchboxes. There should be daily checks,” she said. Similarly, Sanjeev Sharma, a former Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) member at Ryan International School in Bavdhan, said, “As a parent, it is our duty to check what our children eat to ensure it is healthy. It becomes difficult for teachers to keep track. Parent members can spread awareness amongst other parents on healthy tiffins.”
Similarly, welcoming the move, Orchid School principal Namrata Majhail said it is high time everyone started following such a diktat. “We were already following a healthy menu and also made all changes as per FDA demands. The canteen has been asked to remove junk and high-calorie food. Children don’t like eating wholesome and nutritious food, but we are still educating them with help of teachers and parents on the benefits of it,” she asserted. Echoed DAV Pubic School principal CV Madhavi, “We already have a food committee and follow FDA recommendations. We refrain from stocking unhealthy food and have also asked parents to give only homemade food to kids. Children will develop this taste and habit.” Nivedita Madkikar, director of Phoenix World School in Kharadi, also said they had received an FDA letter. “Our canteen menu is already crafted by experts. It is mandatory for parents to only give chapatis and vegetables. Our students and teachers have lunch together, so we can be vigilant about what they eat. At present, we don’t have a food committee, but will form the same next year, as well as involve parents to create better awareness.”
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) — the parent body of the FDAs — is also taking the help of organisations like the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) for Eat Right to work at the ground level. Dr Geeta Dharmatti, a nutritionist and former IDA president, shared, “The challenge of the obesity epidemic in the country is very real. Every school should have a nutritionist counselor, even if visiting. They can conduct sessions to raise awareness on healthy eating and educate kids about it. Such initiatives will help. Parents should be educated about healthy and easy options available. Fibre and protein should be included in the diet. Canteens have taken the initiative to provide healthy food after FDA’s involvement. The major problem is of physical activity — not all parents are aware of this. There is a need to emphasise structured physical activity for kids on priority. Good muscle health gives a better metabolism and automatically, fat management becomes easier.”