What is for lunch today? A question so innocent that it sounds almost harmless…until one is a parent trying to get a child ready for school on time. The kitchen in every household transforms into a high-pressure decision-making centre in the morning. The child tumbles out of bed and with sleepy eyes asks the dreaded question, “What am I getting for lunch today?”
“Anything you like,” says the parent, immediately regretting the answer.
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want anything.”
And thus begins the daily culinary negotiations.
However, the Class V students of SBGS Moira Street have a simple solution: fix the weekly menu for the month with dishes that promote healthy eating habits while striking the right balance between taste, nutrition and variety. This initiative also provides a meaningful platform to the students to apply their imagination, showcase their creativity, hone their critical thinking and problem solving skills while making informed food choices.
The menu curated by the students of Class V for the months of July and August asks the students to stock their lunchboxes with beetroot parathas and curd on Mondays, brown bread pizza with jowar puffs and seasonal fruits on Tuesdays, suji pancakes with dry fruits on Wednesdays, vegetable noodles with sliced mangoes on Thursdays and vegetable or paneer frankies with cucumber sticks and watermelons on Fridays. The menu is thoughtfully drawn up to ensure that no child misses out on the nutrients that the body needs. Fibre-rich beetroot promotes a healthy digestive system, curd supports gut health, the fruits are full of vitamins and minerals, paneer and soya help the body gain protein and energy.
The menu is not just healthy but also has variety as it offers options like parathas, noodles, pancakes, frankies and pizzas so that children who come from different cultural backgrounds can enjoy their lunch with dishes they know and love while discovering new ones. The school also gives out a recipe of the month, a helpful tip for parents who wish to recreate some of the dishes at home. For instance, the recipe for beetroot paratha gives step-by-step instructions that tell the parent exactly how to grate the beetroot and mix it with the dough, how to roll and roast the paratha to get that restaurant feel! Some reminders ensure that parents send their wards with the right quantity of food: a portion that suits their appetite, minimal oil and no processed food. Children are also reminded to carry a napkin and a spoon or fork every day thereby encouraging good mealtime practices.
Overall, the menu offers a balanced diet with variety and ease of preparation without compromising on taste. The act of giving students a voice in a routine aspect of school life reflects the commitment of Sushila Birla Girls’ School to fostering responsibility, experiential learning and healthy living. Through such small yet meaningful steps, the school continues to set itself apart as the best CBSE school in South Kolkata where holistic development serves as the guiding light for every endeavour.
