Alumni in Spotlight

As a part of the project, we reached out to a few alumni of various KVS across the country to ask them about their opinions on food and education.

Some of the selected excerpts from their interviews have been highlighted here:

Memories/Experiences related to food

Community Lunches conducted in school fostered in me love for Food and a habit of sharing my food with others. Due to this habit, i made many Friends and Its still going on. I also got to know about my friends deeply due to heartily conversation over lunches with them. I have created innumerable habits with my loved ones by eating our favourite dishes together at various points of life.

~ Santosh Kumar (batch of 2018-19)

We were taught about balanced diet but we were given patties and fun flips in our school Canteen. One of the only sources of healthy food that they taught us aboutin class was our lunch or our friend’s lunch e.g I used to exchange my lunch with my friend who brought idli Dosa chutney and I bought something north Indian. Her mother used to specially cook an extra lunch for me on my birthdays which is a core memory of mine about food in school.

~ Dr. Shivani Jharwal (batch of 2018-19)

Opinions on 'Food Education'

Food education plays a crucial role in shaping our eating habits and awareness of nutrition. My early exposure to food education, though scattered across different subjects like EVS and Maths, has had a lasting impact on my present food choices and practices. One of my earliest memories of food education dates back to my 4th or 5th grade, where a chapter introduced me to the concept of manufactured and expiry dates. I learned how to check them on packaged foods and the importance of consuming products before their "best before" date. Even today, this habit remains with me—I always check expiry dates before purchasing any food item. Another key lesson from my school days was about healthy eating. We were repeatedly taught to avoid junk food and consume protein-rich meals. While I might not remember the exact lesson, I do recall discussions about calories and the need for a balanced diet. These lessons made me more conscious of what I eat, encouraging me to prefer nutritious meals over unhealthy snacks. In 6th grade, my knowledge of food expanded when we studied the nutritional value of different foods. I learned about carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and even the concept of acidic and basic foods. Though I may not recall every detail, this foundation helped me understand the importance of maintaining a balanced diet. Today, I make better food choices by ensuring I include enough proteins, fiber, and essential nutrients in my meals. Looking back, I realize that these small lessons from my childhood have significantly influenced my present food habits. Whether it's checking expiry dates, avoiding excessive junk food, or being mindful of nutrition, food education has played a vital role in shaping my daily eating practices.

~ Yashas Kumar (batch of 2018-19)

My memories of learning about food are simple but clear. In primary classes, we had a big food pyramid chart in the classroom. Our teachers explained the importance of eating from all food groups — grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and proteins. But when I looked at our mid-day meals or the food some of us brought from home, it didn’t always match what we were taught. In our EVS and later in Science classes, we learned about “balanced diet” and “nutrients.” I remember drawing neat diagrams of the food pyramid in our notebooks and labelling them carefully. During Health Week or special assemblies, we sometimes had talks about healthy eating. Once, a doctor was invited to speak about junk food and why we should avoid it. That made a lot of us think twice before opening a packet of chips. One of my favorite activities was when we were asked to bring a healthy dish from home and speak a few lines about it. It was the first time I really thought about what I was eating and why. Food education in KVS was more about theory than practice, but it still gave us basic awareness. And those lessons, simple as they were, stayed with me.

~Shubham Singh (batch of 2017-18)

Courtesy: Sudakshina Sarkar (2021-2022)

Food literacy teaches students that samosa is a popular traditional snack, though should not be something consumed daily due to high fat content. It fosters a no judgment approach to being mindful with what we eat, teaches moderation, and offers alternatives such as baked samosas. This engagement with food is respectful of cultural foods, while also helping students develop some literacy about nutrition and there is a more conscious understanding of eating healthy in today’s world.

~ Sankya Ramesh (batch of 2023-24)

Courtesy: Shubham Singh (2017-18)

Since the foundation of all learning is laid during school years, awareness about food also started at that time. But the learning opportunities did lack compared to the awareness about it was present in school in that period. To begin with, while we were in primary school, we got an opportunity to participate in a role play where everyone had to dress-up (with a mask too) like a fruit and say few lines about it and its uniqueness (I still remember that I played the role of a mango). We all got to know about different kind of fruits. This is something which stayed close to my heart as I enjoyed and learnt during this process. After coming to secondary school, the group lunch organized by the school really helped me know more about what kind of lunch my friends have. And being a South Indian where people usually have rice as their lunch, tasting and knowing about various non-South Indian dishes really amazed me and since then we at my home started having diverse cuisines more frequently. Apart from these moments which stayed close to my heart, I felt the school lacked the teaching about food at the age when we were mature enough to learn a little technical aspect of it. Mentally I really evolved and learnt about the importance of different fruits and vegetables but I guess that's pretty basic. And the knowledge after that which includes what ingredients in the packed food do we consume everyday is something which school still lack to make students aware of. In the end, I felt the school played a big role laying down the foundation but still the practical knowledge can also be integrated to the curriculum for students of class 9th and above where they can understand and can be aware of what they actually consume.

~ Sai Srikar (batch of 2018-19)

In our school, there was no dedicated curriculum for food education up to Class X however, information about food and nutrition was included in various science books, highlighting food's importance for our life processes. Teachers educated us about balanced diets and the essential nutrients we obtain from food that are necessary for our bodily functions. They explained how different food nutrients interact with the body , which nutrients are important for functions. Understanding how a balanced diet can improve health and fitness was emphasized. For students up to Class X, especially those who did not take Biology or Home Science in Class XI , were taught some basic and essential knowledge only in bits and pieces. Some classes on these topics were taught using smart boards using presentations in an interactive manner I recall that my friends who studied Home Science received more comprehensive knowledge on food, nutrition, nutrients, and balanced diets as they had a whole unit on the same. Because of what I was taught in my school days, I have a basic knowledge of which food sources provide specific nutrients, helping me maintain my physical health and fitness. In conclusion, while food education was not taught as a different subject we gained essential knowledge through the science curriculum which is increasingly important today as eating habits continue to decline. Understanding the role of nutrients and the benefits of a balanced diet is vital for promoting better health and fitness in individuals. Day by day environmental pollution is becoming a significant concern and an increase in health issues within the population is there . It is crucial for all to gain understanding of food education to promote a healthier society.

~ Devesh Upadhyay (batch of 2017-18)

In primary school, we were introduced to the food of different cultures through textbooks and community lunches. Teachers also taught us by example what is healthy and junk food. They made sure nobody would bring Maggi or other fast foods. They also asked us to attach various grains in scrapbooks. In later classes, we were introduced to different components of food- carbohydrates, protein, fats, etc. We were also taught about the food pyramid, balanced diet, how to read nutrition labels, vitamins, and their deficiencies. Nowadays when fast food and junk food are easily available to children, it's more important to teach them so they can make mindful food choices. Energy level, physical fitness, mental health, focus everything is influenced by our food choices. In current times, where lifestyle-based diseases (obesity, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, etc) are increasing, they do not develop in a single day. It is all about everyday habits, where school can play an important role.

~ Sankeerthana Ramesh (batch of 2018-19)

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