Naleba College is piloting a lunch programme for their students under the Health Promoting in Schools initiative.

Home economics teacher Shobhna Kumar said the main aim of the programme was for students to know the proportion of food that should be on their plate.

She said this was part of what she, two students and a parent learned during their trip to Japan, was funded by the World Health Organisation last year

“On our trip to Japan last year, we observed that half of their plate was filled with fruits and vegetables, one-quarter of meat and one quarter of energy giving food,” she said.

“We’re practising it here today (yesterday) and promoting how serious students are taking this.

“With a healthy diet, it will boost students academic performance.”

Principal Sainul Ali said the lunch programme was part of the action plan of the study tour to Japan.

“We have consulted a dietitian,” Mrs Ali said.

“This message is for everyone as our country is fighting against non-communicable diseases.

“We’re also involving our parents and the community so the message is communicated to the community and parents can.

“Parents are fully engaged in the preparation of the food and the clean up, utilising one of the four pillars of the ministry.

“Teachers will be supervising their students during the lunch hour.

“This will be a monthly initiative and we will make it a weekly initiative after our evaluation on the benefits of the program,” she said.

Naleba College has already won bronze and silver medals under the Health Promoting in Schools programme and is working towards their gold medal.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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