DepEd issues policy and guidelines on healthy foods in all schools
THE DEPARTMENT of Education ( DepEd) strictly imposed DepEd Order No. 13, series 2017, “Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices” in all public schools both Secondary and Elementary, DepEd offices and private schools are likewise enjoined to adopt the said guidelines.
This order was issued for the promotion and development of healthy eating habits among the youth and DepEd employees by making available healthy, nutritious and affordable menu choices, and for setting food standard.
The said policy should be implemented in schools following food standards such as developing their own healthy menu ensuring that the foods and drinks offered are nutritious and affordable; not selling beverages high in fat and/ or sugar; following the daily intake for carbohydrates that is within the limits while the daily intake for foods with free sugars should be less than 10% of total energy and the daily intake for sodium should be at least 500 milligram but not more than 800 mg. per day; following the Pinggang-Pinoy platebased guide; and reading nutrition facts on food labels.
They categorized foods and beverages into three, the green, the yellow and red. The green category includes healthy food and drinks low on saturated and trans fat, sugar and salt. This category is recommended to be always available in the school canteen such as fruits, boiled bananas, corn, oatmeal and others. The yellow category includes food and drinks that contain some nutrients but at the same time also contain large amounts of saturated or trans fats, sugar and salt so if eaten in large amounts, it may contribute to excess calories. These maybe served once or twice a week. The red category includes foods and drinks that contain high amount of saturated fat, sugar or salt and should not be served in school canteens such as junk and fatty foods, soft drinks and energized beverages that contain high amount of sugar and/ or sodium.
Parents and guardians are also advised to provide healthy foods and drinks to be consumed by their children. School children shall not bring unhealthy foods and beverages as packed lunch to school. In this regard, parents, stakeholders, school heads, school nurses and teachers expressed their appreciation to the issuance of this policy since unhealthy food eating patterns of children nowadays has a great effect in their health and in their brain development as well.
As to the monitoring of the said policy, all schools shall form a Technical Working Group (TWG) to ensure the implementation of the policy and The DepEd Central, Regional and Division Offices shall monitor and continue to gather feedback from all concerned internal and external stakeholders. Any personnel who violate any provision of these guidelines shall be dealt with administratively. It is also included in the policy that the school canteen should be managed by the school and not to be rented by outside people in order that this memo be observed. However some schools have a problem on this because their school is not fenced and they can’t afford to pay a school guard so children go out and buy in the nearby stores and markets despite of integrating it always in the classroom the possible effect of it to their health.
Since the beginning of school days this year, teams from Deped Division monitored different public school canteens in the province of Benguet and observed that some schools are not abiding to the said policy which leads to the closure of their school canteen.
In Mankayan District alone, results of school children nutritional status as reported by the school nurses for the past two years 2016-2017 were; In the Elementary Level-Pupils who were severely wasted (severe undernourished) increased by .09 percent, wasted (undernourished)- increased by .33 percent, overweight-increased by 1.66 percent and obese pupils increased by .45 percent. In the secondary level, wasted students increased by .25 percent; overweight- increased by 3.78 percent and obeseincreased by .28 percent. As per results also of the Body Mass Index (MBI) status of the DEpEd employees, many teachers are overweight and obese due to stress and lack of exercise. Many children are becoming obese nowadays due to consumption of too much unhealthy foods, sweetened and energized drinks and lack of physical activities because they consumed most of their time in sitting using gadgets and computers.
These results are very alarming to the DepEd Authorities that is why this policy was issued for strict observance and advocacy to improve the health of school children and DepEd employees. Teachers are advised to incorporate healthy diets, wellness, and physical activities in the K to 12 curriculum and in other school events and activities. Schools are responsible also to advocate to local government units to regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods outside the school premises. This policy is just on time for children and not too late for adults also. So, with the help of this policy being implemented in schools, we look forward for a positive and healthy results in the years to come.