School canteen: an associate to health
“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.”-Anne Wilson Schaef IN school and at home, everyone has responsibility in safeguarding a child’s health and safety. A healthy child promotes a lively environment which leads to a safe and sound nation. At home, every parent should observe and consider the three basic food groups in preparing a child’s meal. In school, every teacher should be aware on what a learner consumes while in the vicinity of the school.
In developing eating habits of school children, school canteen plays an important role. What a child eats affects the way he performs in school. Prioritizing service as the school canteen’s main consideration instead of profit is one measure for safeguarding the health condition and promoting proper nutrition of pupils. The health value of food is considered to secure the healthy state of school children. Since the customers are pupils that are dependent on their deficient allowance from their parents, canteen mana g e r s show concern to parents by securing the health and safety of school children. Many belong to low-socioeconomic status which affects the inequalities in children’s diet. Still school children can eat healthily on a budget. One example of safeguarding health and proper nutrition of pupils is the prohibition to sell foodstuff containing dissolved carbon dioxide or carbonated drinks, artificially flavored juices, junk foods and other similar products which are scientifically proven to be bad at the health. There are nutriments such as vegetables and fruits which provides key nutrients for the least amount of money. The transformation of these raw foods into nutritious prepared cookeries is anticipated in a school canteen.
Under D. O # 13, s. 2017, foods and drinks have been categorized under green, yellow, or red. Green category should always be available in canteens because they are the best choices of a healthy school canteen. Under the yellow category are foods that should be served carefully, and under the red category, these are foods which should never be served because they are considered unhealthy. Every school should know the proper categorization of foods and which foods are under each category in order to advocate a healthy environment to learners and to teaching and nonteaching personnel.
To begin with reforming school canteens of the next school year, pupils must learn about nutrition. Reminding the value of proper nutrition keeps school children away from carbonated products and junk foods which are rampant outside the school campus. If learners are to be trained in ruinous results of junk foods and artificially flavored foods, then they will be motivated to consume fitter foods. If learners would love healthier stuffs, there will be increased from consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and other healthy products. Apprentices will not be the only one to be benefited but the farmers as well. Schools then should serve organic foods instead of processed foods for the benefit of everyone. Marietta D. Pacalso