According to the findings of the ASSOCHAM survey, 'Rise in Consumption Pattern of Junk Food in the School,' chips, burgers, samosas, noodles, pasta and other junk food has become the preferred snack for children, making them vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.
A recent survey has concluded that Ahmedabad kids spend as much as Rs.800 to 1000 in school canteens. According to the findings of the ASSOCHAM survey, 'Rise in Consumption Pattern of Junk Food in the School,' chips, burgers, samosas, noodles, pasta and other junk food has become the preferred snack for children, making them vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.
The survey, conducted under the aegis ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) in 25 private and public school canteens in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh and Kolkata raises health issues. "Junk food is rich in fats, salt and sugar. Due to this, many children develop lifestyle diseases. The school management should start selling healthy food too," commented Dr. BK Rao, chairman, ASDF.
The survey also highlighted the fact that children buy food from canteens at least four times a week. Half the children surveyed said they eat eggs, pulses and nuts only once in a week. The survey also indicated that 75% of the canteen operators approached were interested in providing healthier food options but could not do so as profit-making was their primary goal.
However, there were encouraging signs too as 77% of children wanted to opt for fruit juice and 60% wanted flavoured milk. The survey claims that schools also agreed that the eating habits of children need urgent attention as cases of obesity and cardio-vascular diseases at early age are going up.
About 80% of parents liked their children to carry home-cooked food to school on all six days, though 39% of them also give Rs20-40 to their children to buy canteen food. The survey advised school canteens to encourage more dairy snacks and promote healthy food.
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