Kolkata: Several city schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education are planning to introduce healthy menus to encourage less sugary, nutritious eating habits among students.
This follows a recent circular by the board that asked schools to introduce a ‘sugar board’ to motivate students towards a healthy lifestyle.
Many schools, like South Point, have decided to add a segment to the morning assembly to build awareness among students. Aditya Academy Senior Secondary Dumdum, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, and Newtown School are planning to conduct workshops, interactive sessions, and engage students and parents to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Several schools have planned to re-evaluate tiffin items and encourage kids to have healthy food that is less sugary.
CBSE issued a recent circular noting a significant increase in Type 2 diabetes among kids. This trend is largely attributed to high sugar intake, often due to the easy availability of sugary snacks, beverages, and processed foods within school environments.
It also stated that excessive consumption of sugar contributes to obesity, dental issues, and other metabolic disorders, ultimately impacting children’s long-term health and academic performance.
The circular highlighted recent studies that indicated sugar constituted 13 per cent of daily calorie intake for children aged 4 to 10 years and 15 per cent for those aged 11 to 18, substantially exceeding the recommended limit of 5 per cent.
The circular suggested schools establish sugar boards to display information for educating students about risks associated with high sugar consumption and healthier dietary alternatives.
“This will educate students about informed food choices and promote long-term health benefits among students,” the circular said.
Newtown School principal Satabdi Bhattacharjee said they were planning to appoint a nutritionist to keep a regular check on diet. “We have a cafeteria where the menu will be re-evaluated, and we are going to make healthy, tasty food with a special focus on a balanced diet. We are recruiting a full-time nutritionist in our school.
The aim is to hold special workshops with students and parents and suggest food choices to the parents,” she said.
DPS Ruby Park principal Joyoti Chaudhuri said, “We conduct non-fire cookery classes that educate students about healthy eating habits, and we will certainly implement the ‘sugar boards’ initiative as well.”
South Point School principal Jaydeep Ghosh said health awareness would be part of the morning assembly once the school reopens after the summer break.
He also mentioned that they didn’t allow refined or all-purpose flour (Maida) in the school canteen and used only wheat flour. Lakshmipat Singhania Academy director Meena Kak said, “Our Monday assemblies, which already focus on health themes, may highlight the effects of excessive sugar consumption.
The Cookery Club for senior students will explore healthy substitutes for sugar and promote nutritious cooking practices. The existing meal menu for the junior section will be extended to senior section.”
Meghna Ghosal, principal of Aditya Academy Senior Secondary, Dumdum, said they were planning to involve alumni from the medical profession to provide expert guidance, support awareness campaigns, and promote a healthier school environment to safeguard well-being of kids.
Endocrinologist Debashish Basu lauded the CBSE move. “Thousands of youngsters in this age group develop diabetes due to uncontrolled and unregulated food habits. This will help develop awareness and protect them from juvenile diabetes,” said Basu.
