Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): CBSE-affiliated schools in the city are installing ‘Sugar Boards’ on their premises to inform students about the sugar content of popular snacks and beverages. The initiative, being taken on the request of the CBSE, is aimed at persuading students to give up junk food and sweet beverages and protect themselves from obesity, diabetes and other health issues.
The schools say they are also ensuring that their canteens serve only healthy eatables, with a complete ban on fast foods, cold drinks etc. The CBSE had requested all schools affiliated to it to sensitise students to the dangers of excessive sugar consumption by putting up Sugar Boards. “Against the recommended 5%, sugar constitutes 13% to 15% of the daily calorie intake of children in the age group 4-18 years,” the CBSE circular said.
“We will be putting up magnified images of the list of contents printed on cans of cold drinks,” PRO of Campion School, Winston Minj said. The school also plans to install ‘Sugar Boards’ at the entrance to school, waiting room for parents as well as at places where they would catch the eye of the students. “The school principal would also talk to the students about healthy food at the morning assembly,” he said, adding that the school canteen serves only oats, dalia (porridge), poha, sweet curd and buttermilk.
Principal of Sagar Public School, Pankaj Sharma said that they have been already working on the issue. “We identify obese students and then the PT instructor draws up an exercise plan for them,” she said. The school already has informative displays indicating the sugar content of various food items and they would be installing Sugar Boards, too, she added.
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“In primary classes, we dedicate each day of the week to a particular vegetable and ask the students to bring that veggie in their lunch boxes,” the principal said, adding that “if a student forgets to bring his lunch box, the school provides milk and bananas to him/her.” The school doesn’t have a canteen but the teachers keep an eye on what children are bringing in their lunch boxes and advise parents in case of need.
Principal of Ivy Global School, Rajesh Sharma said that around 30% of school children are obese. “This is a very alarming situation,” he said, adding that his school would soon be installing Sugar Boards at the entrance lobby and other strategic locations on the premises. The school’s canteen does not serve any fast food or sweet beverages. The menu is limited to wheat-flour samosa, rajma-chawal, khichdi and veg sandwich, Sharma added.
