Author(s): Ameena RN and Dr. Mini Joseph

Abstract:
The Eat Right India Movement is a year-long social and mass media campaign of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This food regulatory authority is reaching out to different schools and colleges and is organizing ‘Eat Right Campus’, wherein the officials are making children aware about safe food practices. This study was an attempt to create awareness about eating healthy foods amongst school going adolescents. All the students of the two schools (300 students in private school and 180 students in government school) were sensitized to healthy eating habits by the conduct of various healthy nutrition related interactive activities. The study looked at the nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices followed by a selected group of students and introduced interventions to improve their existing nutritional awareness. The in-depth study sample consisted of 100 adolescents of age 11-13 years among them 50 each were from a government school and a private school. A standardized questionnaire method was developed and used to collect the relevant data of the students which included socio-economic, personal, health profile, diet profile and lifestyle particulars data (N=100). The data was analyzed statistically using appropriate statistical tests. The nutritional intervention (nutrition classes, interactive activities, kitchen garden) to enhance the student’s nutritional knowledge, attitude towards food and eating practices was successful as seen from the test scores after the nutritional intervention. The vegetable garden developed during the study in both schools was a constructive outcome of this study and will serve as an asset for future generation. The study was also able to convey the nutrition message to the parents who are the primary caregivers. Thus, this study was able to create positive nutritional awareness amongst the adolescents and their parents. It can be concluded that was successful in integrating the “Eat Right Movement” in this selected group of student community.