The
consumption of food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) has been found to be
associated with many diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension,
dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation and hyperinsulinemia with a risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life. These
diseases and childhood obesity have been reportedly found to affect the cognitive
and physical development of children adversely, causing an irreparable loss to
the society.
In
this context, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) constituted a
Working Group which submitted its report on Addressing Consumption of Foods
High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) and Promotion of Healthy Snacks in Schools
of Tamilnadu. The report comprehensively covers the issue and provides
invaluable insights on how to control the endemic problem of consumption of
junk food available especially in and around schools.
Therefore,
it is advised to all Chief Educational Officers to implement the
recommendations of the report especially with reference to the following
points:
i.
Schools are
required to ensure that there is no HFSS foods (such as chips, fried foods, carbonated
beverages, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, potato fries and
confectionery items, chocolates, candies, samosas, bread pakora, etc.,)
available in the school canteens premises, etc., In so far as possible in their capacity,
schools are also urged to take the possible necessary steps to ensure
non-availability of HFSS around 200 meters of the school.
ii.
Schools
need to constitute the School Canteen Management Committee having about 7 to 10
members including teacher, parent(s), student(s) and school canteen
operator(s). The Committee will coordinate, implement and monitor the
guidelines to make safe food available to students in the school. The following
are the major functions of the School Canteen Management Committee:
Ø
To decide
the type of food to be prepared in the school kitchen / canteen and, as and when
possible, to check the quality of raw materials and ingredients required for
the same. For schools where food is not prepared and is sourced from outside, a
Subcommittee will select the items of food as per the guidelines available in
the report.
Ø
To ensure that food
available in schools meets the food safety, hygiene and sanitation requirements
as per the guidelines available in the report and also as outlined by Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Ø
To study the gaps and advise
School Principal about necessary infrastructural facilities required as per the guidelines available in
the report.
Ø
To design physical activity
programs for students taking into account age, climatic and other environmental conditions. The Board
has already advised schools that there should be at least 40-45 minutes of
Physical Activities or Games period for Classes I-X every day. For Classes XI –
XII schools should ensure that all the students participate in Physical
Activity / Games / Mass P.T / Yoga with maximum health benefits for at least two
periods per week (90-120 min / week).This time may be used to conduct physical activities
as desired in the report.
Ø
To be responsible for
ensuring that all the recommendations given in the report of the working group
are duly implemented.
Ø
To avail expertise of
external resources such as nutritionist, physical activity trainers, public health specialist, food safety expert,
etc.
Ø
To develop awareness
material on Information regarding Hygienic Practices for School Canteens;
Information on Fundamentals of Nutrition; Information about Promotion of Physical
Activity; Group Discussion on nutrition; Quiz Program on nutrition, hygiene and
physical activity; Display of pictorials(posters) on nutrition, hygiene and
physical activity in schools.
Ø
To make appropriate
arrangement for display of contact numbers of Doctors/ Medical Officers who can
be contacted for any health related emergency at various important places such
as notice boards, first-aid room, labs, canteen, etc.
iii.
Awareness generating events
regarding nutritious food and avoidance of HFSS foods like Celebration of
Nutrition Week (1-7th September) and other such occasions may be organized throughout
the year by the schools.
iv.
In order to promote
healthier eating habits, the following additional activities may be taken up by
the schools:
v
Providing information on-
quality nutrition, selection and preparation of healthy food and integrating
physical activities during the school time
v
Teaching children about the
importance of embracing a healthy active lifestyle and incorporating healthy
eating habits
v
Creating a set of activities
to involve children, teachers and parents to develop healthy eating behavior
among children e.g. healthy tiffin competition, a nutritious recipe competition-cum-nutrition
discussion session for parents, projects on food safety, celebrating healthy
snacking day in classes, debate competitions for students in senior classes on
topics related to hygiene and sanitation, advantages of healthy life style options,
etc.
v
Making parents aware about
obesity, HFSS foods and importance of physical activity so that they:
1. Give children toys/sports equipment that encourage physical
activity like balls, skipping ropes, bicycles etc.
2. Encourage children to join a sports team or try a new physical
activity.
3. Facilitate a safe walk to and from school
4. Walk around the home after a meal
5.
Limit viewing Television
v.
Community Outreach Programme
promoting physical activity may be undertaken by the schools to disseminate the
messages related to health to the community members and to get their support by
organizing interactions between school students and neighborhood communities
through display of posters on physical activity at public places (bus shelters
or market area). Resident Welfare Associations of the neighborhood community
may also be involved in this drive.
vi.
It is once again reiterated
that schools should regularly monitor the height, weight and Body Mass Index
(BMI) for all the students and based on their trajectory, individualized
counselling should be provided to each student and parents during
Parent-Teacher Association.
vii.
Inspection of lunch boxes to
rule out consumption of unhealthy foods may be done by the schools.
viii.
Schools should also promote
nutrition education and awareness among children through tools such as posters,
collage and other visual aids.
ix.
Use of Co-scholastic/Co-Curricular activities
periods may be extensively used to promote nutrition and healthy habits.
x.
Practicals may be conducted in participatory
and interactive manner. Building skills of children as part of the curriculum
to read and make sense of food labels should be encouraged.
All the Tamil Nadu 10th Board Candidates, who are lookig for the Tamil Nadu SSLC Result 2018 , that will be released by Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Edcuation in May 2018. Your Board examination time table will be available in January 2018 Onward. Keep Visit Official web portal regularly for more updates.
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