N. Raghuraman’s column – Why can’t there be healthy chaat classes in schools and colleges? | एन. रघुरामन का कॉलम: स्कूल-कॉलेज में हेल्दी चाट क्लास क्यों नहीं हो सकतीं!

N. Raghuraman, Management Guru

This is a two-way program. It is not only bringing a big change towards healthy eating habits among the youth, but is also giving a huge business opportunity if they want to make a future in it.

On October 4, Karnataka’s Youth Empowerment and Sports Department launched a first-of-its-kind, week-long training program in preparing chaat – a spicy dish that can make anyone’s mouth water.

About 45 students are being trained in this and it will continue till October 9. It aims to empower the youth and popularize the diverse traditional snacks of Karnataka.

The program is an effort to expose youth to more nutritious food options, who are typically tempted by advertisements like junk food.

Their menu also features popular chaats from rural areas of Karnataka, which are not commonly seen in cities like Bengaluru. These included Shenga Masala made from Girmit and Cornflakes, Hasi Khara Chuda Masala (two types) and many other items.

This gave me an idea that why can’t our schools and colleges organize a class on every second and fourth Friday or Saturday of the month to promote this cooking art to both boys and girls.

Students can wear aprons to feel like chefs. It will bring together boys and girls for an activity where gender equality in the cooking activity is not exclusive to women. These could be different cooking classes. Fire, stove, pan will not be a part of this class.

You can bring readymade items available in the market and mix them, maybe you need to chop some tomato, onion, green coriander, green chillies and sometimes you can also cut the salad into pieces properly, apart from this add salt, chilli powder and chaat masala as per taste. Can.

If one wants salad items, they can add for extra taste. Boiled potatoes can be easily arranged from school and college canteens or even from outside. Cooking is an art and both boys and girls can master it.

Apart from enhancing the creativity in the minds of the youngsters, it will surely increase their understanding of proteins and carbs in their preparation and gradually they will shift towards healthy eating habits. The only way for kids to look at food the way our ancestors did is to get kids off the junk food that is making them fat and sick.

Schools should have some space for cricket grounds, squash and tennis courts as well as gardens where organic vegetables can be grown or at least urban schools can explain the importance of organic farming by showing them agricultural farms.

After getting their hands dirty in the soil, children will not look at food with a quantity mentality but will look at it judiciously. A different kind of respect will emerge in their minds which will be without fertilizers and chemicals. Introducing them to healthy food at an early age will increase their respect for what they are eating.

Most of us children might have forgotten the experiments done in the science lab of the school, but we will never forget those unnecessary things and small tasks which we did while helping our mother in that lab called Kitchen.

Mother’s strict attitude regarding our behavior in her kitchen indirectly instilled in us a great respect for food, which seems to be missing in modern days.

The bottom line is that Making the kitchen a part of the lab in school or college will help the next generation to stay away from junk food, which is currently harming them. School and college owners should think in this direction as it will be a service to the society.