Banning Junk foods in school: Is it a welcome step

Hi Sree! Excellent post! It is a welcome step. Junk food are not healthy and such items does no good to our physical state of health. They could in fact cause of many ailments in children. However, it is easier said than done. Everyone wants to have something ready-made to eat. Be it potato wafers, savory items, deep friend Indian snacks, burgers or pizzas. There are actually few items, which do not fall into the category of junk food. Those items remain fresh for a certain period of time and those are always freshly prepared at home. For example, if you serve freshly fried Pakoras to your kids then it is OK, however, if you serve the Pakoras after 5-6 hours, it will fall into the category of junk food. Kids have become so used to consuming junk food that they do not like home cooked food and think that it is below their status to take home cooked food to their school. Parents have their own limitation, specially those who are a working couple. So it is like catch 22 situation, where you just can not get rid of junk food, even if you wish.

Hello Sree.. This is very wise step from our Government. So is this step is going to implement in all over the India ?? Its good that children will able have the healthy food. Surely this junk food is not good for health. And these days kids are more attracting with this food. So surely its a wise step that they will allow this food in schools. Because kids always used to eat such food from school. But now they all safe.

Hi Sri, I did not know there was a court directive to this but about a few months ago, there was a notice from my son’s principal stating that all soft drinks and chips were no longer available at the school cafeteria…maybe this was in the same context. You know I think our government really doesn’t care for the health of its citizens. At the beginning of this year, there was a court ruling seeking to ban the sale of guthkas and paan masalas…the ban was supposed to be effective from 31st march 2011, but nothing came of it. Secondly, Indians have traditionally consumed coconut water and buttermilk to quench their thirsts. Now, you can guarantee the hygiene of buttermilk but you can be sure about coconut water…yet, the govt does nothing to promote its awareness and sales among the younger generation. Everywhere you see on the road, whenever people are thirsty, they are paying Rs 12/- to buy a bottle of soft drinks which is doing so much damage to their health yet they are not very eager to pay Rs. 15/- for coconut water. In aping the west, we are neglecting our own traditional food and drinks which are most suited to our health and weather conditions.

Hi kala, That's indeed a good move on the part of the government. What's more important is to ensure that it does happen actually. It's a scene outside most schools and colleges here. You should see how the vendors marketing and how the students devouring in the delights that they are offered. The canteens are no better. I do not think, the government colleges, has any quality control. Parents have been fighting but in vain.

Dear Sree, There is no doubt Junk food affects the health and that too near to school would surely attract the students. May be the concern food inspector should take a strict inspection and quality check up so that much healthy food can be consumed. Moreover quick action and punishment on the those who do not maintain quality healthy food. I feel the students could get healthy food and this has to be assured by the authorities over there otherwise it would better to ban such activties. May be if a student of person is unable to bring food there could be provided quality foods in canteen or other food providing places inside the school or college that is well maintained by the managements by providing healthy hygenic food. I feel if it sure that they are not able to provide healthy food it is better to avoided or banned.

Hi Sreekala, I am all for it ! In fact I would go one step further and make it a rule never to send chips,wafers and cola as lunch snacks either by the parents...I have seen so many children bringing in a couple of biscuits,a packet of wafer and a drink for lunch , day after day...So we have to bring in more awareness all round..

I think they should offer healthy foods in school only.

I think it is a great step. I think the youngsters of today are really getting carried away with junk food. So in this way at least in the schools kids do not have ready access to junk foods. Hopefully this will reduce the obsession with junk food. Cheers! Ram

This is indeed a welcome step. I think parents and the school are equally responsible for the kids eating junk food. Most of the parents give the children pocket money and this money is only spent on junk food available either in the school or just outside the schools. Junk food is bad for health and responsible for the obesity in many kids.

dear sis, This is a good news. Some schools here in our place does implements such banning and no-softdrink/junk foods inside school premises. So kids cannot also bring junkfoods and softdrink inside the school campus. This is really good and is helpful for us parents. have a good day dear

hi sree I don't let you dragged me again that's why i'm here Finally, our drowsy government has enforce a very vital law in our country. The parents(you also) whose children are in school are very much relief or happy by listen this news, as now there children will not able to take this junk food which causes very harmful diseases(obesity, heart diseases, stroke and many more). Previously government had taken various step to stop down the consuming of such food they had rise the prices of such junk food to reduce the sale but the result were the same, i think this step of the government will be worthful and many of the pupils will remain healthy...

Sree beti This is definitely a good step, here in front of each school even college you see moveable stalls that sell junk foods, they are prepared from over used oil etc, more over the utensils are not clean at all, while in service, in one college i called a man who ran a canteen in one of our rooms, near the staff room.. we should encourage our kids to avoid junk foods, chips, kurkure etc, they should eat what we give in tiffin box.. Thanks for sharing Best of luck. Professor

Hello Sreekala, This is great step court has taken. Junk food as we know is not good for health and it should not be sold in school cateens because of small kids. I know junk food does lot of business in canteens and kids have a craze to eat burgers,patties but then they are bad for health they don't understand it but people who teach not to eat junk food should understand it and try that kids don't eat it.

hello sreekala, though not an indian citizen myself, in fact i live in a country where there is junk food everywhere, the conversation is very interesting. i am pleased to hear your government is now being forced into action, as the problem with junk food is that its cheap and easy to prepare, and so its no suprise that children at school like it, and that the schools offer in the canteen, because its easy. but its good to see that there are a lot of people who aware this is a problem, and want to do something about it.

You're right if they do not like students eating those unhealthy or non-nutritious foods, therefore they must eliminate it from canteens. This seemed to be a problem on our school too when I was still on my elementary years. Junk foods are indeed not healthy because of the vetsin that composes it. Vetsin causes these foods to be salty which will now cause kidney stones formation or even kidney failure. In order to avoid this, you must drink a lot of water after eating such. I hope kids will be taught about this. So that they could also be aware on its bad effects in the body.

Our school should avoid selling junk foods.It can lead to malnutrition.They should go for healthy but affordable food that may help the students to become healthier,stronger and smarter.but I think it will be a long process to implement this act.It will need cooperation and perseverance to pursue this goal.And i hope it will happen soon.

I remember that I went to buy something once, and I asked for something healthy. I remember them laughing and telling me that the only healthy thing I could order was a salad. And even the salad was filled with mayonnaise.