Food

Students in government schools consume more vegetables in Delhi-NCR: study

In government schools, students consumed 250 gm of vegetables compared to 230 gm consumed by students in private schools

 
By Jitendra
Published: Friday 02 November 2018
The study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations surveyed 98,596 students from government and private schools. Credit: Getty mages

Breaking a widespread belief that students from private schools consume more nutritious food, a new study shows that students in government schools in Delhi-National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR) consume more vegetables than their counterparts in private schools.

The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), a Delhi-based think-tank surveyed 98,596 students across 36 government and 54 private schools in Delhi-NCR between class 5 to 12. Sponsored by PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, the study was titled Survey of Fruits, Vegetables & Juice Intake of School Children, Nutritionists & Dieticians

According to the study, more than 56 per cent students enrolled in classes 5-12 in Delhi-NCR consumed lesser green vegetables than what is mandated. And, only over one-fourth students ate fruits daily.

The study used dietary recommendations from the National Institute of Nutrition that says each individual should consume at least 300 gm of vegetables per day. Of this, 50 gm should be green leafy vegetables, other vegetables should be 200 gm and 50 gm should be tubers. Apart from this, 100 gm of fresh fruits should be consumed daily per person.

While there was no significant difference in consumption behaviour across gender, younger children ate lesser vegetables as they are dependent on elders like parents and teachers for fulfilling their dietary needs. 

In government schools, students consumed 250 gm of vegetables compared to 230 gm consumed by students in private schools.

But students enrolled in private schools ate more fruits than those in government schools. While 34 per cent private school students consumed fruits daily, only 20 per cent students in government school had them. 

The study was authored by Arpita Mukherjee, Souvik Dutta, Tanu M. Goyal, Ankita Marwaha and Avantika Kapoor of ICRIER. 

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :
Related Stories

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.