Time to kick junk food out of canteens!

CHENNAI: A decade back, school canteens used to have food, cooked by the watchmens’ wives or ayahs (maids), in a bid to provide kids with some additional food options when needed and supplement the income of those ladies. Once the reign of packaged food and heftier allowances began, most mid-higher income school canteens also evolved to suit their ‘clientele’. How much it has come to hurt young girls and boys is a gristly picture that few school administrators have chosen to consider. “When the latest statistics on number of obese kids came out, parents and teachers were shocked. Still, some school canteens continue to sell junk food,” says Dr Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, Chief Dietician – Apollo Hospitals.  Dieticians and nutritionists in the city unanimously welcome the Delhi High Court’s order to crack down on junk food sales in any school and their directive to the Union Health Ministry to extend the same recommendation to all other states. “It is a good beginning and will definitely be good for the kids after a point in time, especially the younger ones (7-12),” opines Dr Annette Beatrice, Assistant Professor of Home Science, Women's Christian College.  The major reason why kids are attracted to fried and American fast food is because “they’re non-messy, bright, tasty finger-food,” says Dr Bhuvaneshwari.But a change is brewing, slowly yet surely, she assures. “Schools, these days, are checking snack-boxes to make sure parents aren’t sending them packed food like chips or noodles, because they are bad to eat on a regular basis,” she says. However, she adds, “I see children themselves staying off aerated drinks and colas, which is a positive sign.” While Indian food is just as calorie and carbohydrate-rich as its Western counterparts, the lack of preservatives make it “a healthier option”.Giving kids the food they like with a healthier twist, makes all the difference. Steaming over frying, chicken over red meat, peas over potato can make a ‘large’ difference. While the UK and other European countries have restricted the drinks available (quantity and calorie) to children according to norms set down by the Union of European Beverages Association (UNESDA), no such laws exist here. Hence, only a blanket ban will curb the opportunity and improve overall health.