Health campaign asks kids to eat Indian, junk fast food

The campaign started from April 18 and ayush medical officers in the district are teaching children about the principles of ayurveda and use of traditional Indian food and spices instead of junk and fast food.

With children getting hooked to computer, mobile phones and televisions along with increased consumption of junk food, their physical activity has reduced and along with increasing pressure of studies, their health is being affected and they becoming obese.

To help improve daily routine among children and lead a healthy lifestyle, the state ayurveda department has launched healthy lifestyle campaign at both government and privaterun primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, said state health minister Kali Charan Saraf on Thursday.

“The campaign was started on April 18 in which ayush medical officers in the district are teaching children about the principles of ayurveda and use of traditional Indian food and spices instead of junk and fast food,” he said.

Children are being taught about the benefits of consuming traditional Indian food and spices, which are good for the body, required nutrition, immunity and strengthening the digestive system of children, the health minister said.

“Children are being taught about the ill-effects of ignoring physical activity and consuming fast food.”

Apart from this, asyush medical officers are also conducting health check-ups of children and so far more than 43,000 children have undergone the health check-up, he said.

“Effective monitoring is being carried out by the nodal officer at the state level and district ayuveda officer at the district level.”

Children are also being taught about the benefits of yoga, pranayam and sleeping for at least eight hours, getting up early in the morning among others, he said.

“Children are also being taught about medicinal plants and how to use herbs for different ailments.”

Dr Indra Kumar Jain, nodal officer of the campaign said children are also taught about how preventing themselves from seasonal diseases, ill-effects of tobacco and liquor and how to lead a healthy lifestyle.