Thursday, 26 September 2013
Friday, 20 September 2013
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Groves snacks - A new, healthy way to eat
FSSAI has prepared a set of guidelines for schoolchildren
Nutritionist Meenakshi Bajaj's five-year-old turns her nose
up at a packet of crisps, “But Mama, this is junk,” she says, with a touch of
drama. “No, she didn't get that from me,” Dr. Bajaj says. “She learnt it from
school, and at this age, kids set great store by what their teachers say, not
parents.”
That is one reason why parents who want the best for their
children will be grateful for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI)'s latest move. The Authority has drawn up a series of draft guidelines
to be followed by all Indian schools to ensure that children get safe,
hygienic, healthy and balanced food.
In its submission in a public interest litigation filed in
the Delhi High Court, the FSSAI has prepared a comprehensive set of guidelines,
covering all aspects of a healthy diet, targeting food groups, nutrition
aspects, preparation, handling, storage, and monitoring.
The PIL was filed by Rahul Verma of Uday Foundation, a
Delhi-based NGO, and it prayed for a ban on selling junk food and carbonated
drinks in schools and within an 500 m radius.
The FSSAI has acknowledged that the lack of standards for
schools has resulted in under nutrition combined with several incidents of food
poisoning and contamination in the school feeding programme. Additionally,
obesity is a problem particularly in the towns, due to the changing dietary
practices of children.
In order to understand the situation in schools, the FSSAI
charged a market research company with assessing the existing condition of
foods being served in schools. Based on the study outcome, the guidelines have
been framed, and promise to be friendly for children and schools.
The idea is that schools need to encourage consumption of
fruits and vegetables, including green leafy ones, locally available and
seasonal. Wherever children bring their own meals, it is imperative to teach
children about eating healthy, and to keep a watch on what they bring in their
lunch boxes..
What is more, the FSSAI, which functions under the health
ministry, is recommending the use of social networks like Facebook and Twitter
to take the message of risks associated with eating unhealthy food across the
nation. Vijay Vishwanathan, of MV Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram,
says there are three aspects to inculcating the healthy food habit: Parents
should pack healthy food, schools should provide only healthy food and junk
food must not be available near the school. “Only then, can we really hope for
a positive result. But it has happened, there is a model school in Chandigarh,
under the CBSE’s health care manual, all three aspects are in practice, and we
are seeing a change,” he adds. The hospital conducted a survey in Chennai
schools between 2009 and 2011, and found that 23 per cent were overweight and
13 per cent obese.
Dr. Bajaj reinforces the point about beginning in schools.
“It is only when healthy food habits are reinforced from an early stage, and
repeatedly do they have an effect. In fact, my recommendation is to have a
nutritionist in every school. This is way more sensible than going to a
nutritionist when you are older and have diabetes and hypertension, altering
eating habits is always tougher then.”
In her opinion, schools have a great impact on children, and
some schools have already incorporated the health concept with reference to
children’s lunches and snacks.
Banana Chips - "Eat healthy, this Onam - Live prosperous"
Eat Healthy
What is the significance of the Groves banana chips for this
Onam ?
Fairly speaking the significance falls onto the quality and
the pure value we consider for food /snacks we produce. We produce banana,
crinkled banana, flavored Banana chips, and what it differs from other brands is purely the quality and
packing. The quality aspects like - healthy oil, regularly replacing of oil
fully automatic production from peeling to packing, thus avoiding any chance of
product contamination through human intervention. The flavors are carefully
picked and every care is taken to avoid artificial flavors and to totally
minimize the use of preservatives. For
the same, we offer only 4 months of shelf life for our products against 6-9
months offered by competing brands… But why should it take so long, for a good
product to be picked up from the shelf…
Long used oil.
Every oil tends to burn after the boiling point, which
starts producing carcinogenic substances like polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons , aflatoxin etc.
Everyone would have seen
local vendors who fries Banana
chips on the street with the same oil hour after hours. You may buy a 100 g
packet at below Rs.20. But how many of you have ever thought of the ill-health
effects you bought with it..the ambiance, the cleanliness of the workers , the
contamination and pollution intruded in total procedure…its long and terrific..
You may make you mind believe that these factors are very mild to be considered
before the rate at which you taste it. But it is only, when you eat healthy, you will be able to
think healthy and wise, which makes you live healthy and prosperous.
So this Onam, Eat healthy and Live prosperous..
Happy Onam.
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
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