Regulation on schools’ lunch box menu goes down well with all

The practice is being followed at Delhi Public School (DPS) Pune since 2003. “We have prepared a well-balanced menu that we give to the parents at the beginning of the term. However,it’s fairly flexible. For instance,on the day of South Indian dish,they have a choice to prepare dosa,idli or uttappam. On the day for vegetables,they can opt for paratha-sabji or paratha stuffed with sabji,” said Neelam Chakraborty,principal,DPS. Besides,the students are supposed to get some fruit or fruit juice everyday. While the school has specified the food items for Monday to Thursday,the students are free to get food of their choice on Friday.

Like DPS,there are many schools in the city that have started to pay special attention to the nutrition intake of their students. At Sharad Pawar International School,parents are strictly instructed to not give junk food in lunch box and provide home-cooked food. “In the school canteen,the food committee is very particular about the nutritional value of the food prepared,” said Vaishali Mahadik,administration assistant.

Wherever implemented,the menu-system seems to be a big hit amongst mothers. Anahita Nambiar,a student of St Mary’s School,has developed a liking for fruits,vegetables,sandwich and chapattis,items she rarely ate earlier. However,following a menu becomes a bit complicated for some schools like RIMS International. “We have a lot of foreign students at our school. A uniform food menu cannot be applicable to all. While we encourage Indian students to get roti-sabji or rice-curry,foreign students are asked to bring salad with their tiffin,” said principal Nivedita Madkikar.

Similarly,at Cambridge International School,parents are free to give anything except junk food items. However,it is compulsory for the students to bring one seasonal fruit everyday. Says Ram Raina,director,“To inculcate healthy eating,we organise a Social Fruit Party twice a month,wherein the students are given lessons about different seasonal fruits and their nutritional value.”