Schools get ready to junk ‘unhealthy’ food

Shamrao Kalmadi School principal Kamini Saxena is of the view that while their canteen food was always healthy,owing to the ban on junk food and soft drinks in their school,the focus now is likely to shift from healthy snacks to mini-meals.

“Earlier our canteen used to provide samosas and vadapavs regulary. We reduced it to once a week two years back. Now we’re thinking of having mini-meals which will be both appealing as well as healthy,” said Saxena. The school is likely to decide on the new menu soon,keeping in mind the nutrition aspects as pointed out by the Delhi High Court.

Symbiosis International School principal Narendra Ojha said even parents and students were very supportive when the school decided to shun junk food from the canteen menu about a year back. “We earlier used to have small items like chips,wafers and other snacks. But we did away with it after the food committee of the school decided against it. We concentrate more on protein-based food and fresh fruit juices,” said Ojha. Ojha said as parents discourage food from outside,ordering junk food and even bringing junk food in the campus is prohibited.

“The administration needs to make sure that food items like pani puris,vada pav,colas and other aerated soft drinks are not allowed near the school.” said a parent.