Ggn schools take steps to replace fast food with healthy snacks

City schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are taking steps to replace junk food with healthy snacks in their canteens, after the Board issued a  circular to them in this regard on January 7.

In a circular to all affiliated schools, the CBSE has written that consumption of food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) has been found to be associated with many diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and others. 

The Board has asked the schools to conduct events and meetings with children and generate awareness on healthy snacking.

Several CBSE schools in the city are now forming school canteen committees, which will decide the menu for schoolchildren. The committees will check the quality of the food being served at the school canteens and underline hygiene issues. Schools which already have such committees will include students and endorse the group even more.

“Our school already has  healthcare groups, which promote healthy eating habits and also organise a canteen every three months. The canteen serves healthy food items to students and teaches them about substitutes of junk food,” said Peeya Sharma, principal, Ryan International School, Sector 40. 

Some schools with in-house canteen have already started working to do away with food with HFSS content. However, some schools feel that instead of removing junk food, the CBSE should look and strike a balance between junk and heathy snacks.