Tags:
Journalism of Courage
NO MATTER what health experts, doctors and others concerned may say, to a child a slice of pizza is more appetising than a roti. Besides pizza, schoolchildren in Chandigarh say they like pasta, chips, noodles, with cold drinks.
For Rishita Jain, a student of Class VII at Mount Carmel, pasta is what makes the ideal lunch box. “Although I take paranthas-sabzi in my tiffin, I am really fond of Maggi and pasta. Sometimes, I buy chips and candies from the school canteen. My parents tell me it’s unhealthy, but I tell them that I cannot live without it,” she says.
Children as young as five years old have their own set of preferences for food. Shehraj, a UKG student of Strawberry Fields School, knows what he wants in his school tiffin: a stuffed parantha along with cheese and fried nuggets. Or else, he will not go to school.
Strawberry Fields School has a café where parents can place an order to prepare food for their wards, in case the child forgets to bring his tiffin. The café serves hot dogs, burgers for students, among other food items. Soft drinks and French fries are among other popular food items for students. Parents can also order Indian meal such as pao bhaji, kadi chawal and idli sambar.
Akshat, who studies at Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, finds it “tough” to eat fruits and vegetables on a regular basis in the tiffin. “I request mom-dad to take me out for eating pizza sometimes,” he says.
Talking about the fast food options available for students in schools, Kavita Dass, principal, St John’s High School, says, “We had banned junk food in our school several years ago and we monitor the tiffin they bring. Parents are already on board and regular talks are held with children. There is no canteen in our school.”
Gurpreet Bakshi, administrator, St Kabir School, says, “After the advisory was issued, we circulated notices to parents asking them to stop their children from eating junk food.”
