Amid intense heat, Zirat Colony High School has taken an innovative initiative to promote awareness about good health and eating habits among students.
With temperatures soaring, today’s mid-day meal menu featured soaked rice, water infused with fragrant Gandharaj lemon leaves, potato chokha, egg bhujia, and a mango-based tadka prepared using fruit from the school’s own trees.
Although the weekly menu usually includes egg rice, the school introduced this special summer-friendly traditional meal keeping in mind the rising temperatures and their impact on schoolchildren.
According to the school authorities, the primary objective was to convey that soaked rice is beneficial in keeping the body cool while maintaining nutritional value during summer.
The initiative generated enthusiasm among students. Several of them, including Ayantika, Megha Saha, Bartik Shil and Taras Tudu, relished the meal and remarked that the new menu was preferable to items such as chowmein, biryani or meat-based preparations.
Acting headmaster Dr Abdul Sharif Shek said: “We want the mid-day meal to be seen not merely as food, but as a learning process related to food science and healthy dietary habits, including their role in regulating bodily functions.”
The initiative was led by teachers Sameer Chakraborty, Satyaki Banerjee and others.
School president Partha Chatterjee said: “During summer, soaked rice helps keep the body cool, aids digestion and provides energy. Our aim is to pass on this traditional food habit to the younger generation.”