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Food environment and policies in private schools in Kolkata, India

Version 2 2024-06-04, 11:47
Version 1 2016-07-14, 10:40
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-04, 11:47 authored by N Rathi, Lynn RiddellLynn Riddell, Tony WorsleyTony Worsley
School food policies and services have the potential to influence the food practices and eating behaviours of adolescents which in turn may affect their lifestyles and health in adulthood. The aim of this qualitative investigation was to describe the opinions of adolescents, their parents, nutrition educators and school principals about the prevailing food environment and canteen policies in Indian schools. Fifteen adolescents aged 14–15 years, 15 parents, 12 teachers and 10 principals from 10 private schools in Kolkata, India participated in semi-structured interviews. The interview questions were primarily based on the existing literature related to school food environments and policies. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and assessed thematically. Throughout the 52 interviews, a number of inadequacies of the school food environment and policies were revealed. These included the absence of written food policies, the widespread supply of unhealthy foods, inadequate provision of healthy foods, misleading messages about food communicated by school authorities, lack of cleanliness in the school canteen and the high cost of canteen food. Current school food environments do not appear to promote healthy eating among adolescents. Therefore, it is important to upgrade the quality of food services in Indian schools through adoption of healthy eating policies.

History

Journal

Health Promotion International

Volume

32

Pagination

340-350

Location

England

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

0957-4824

eISSN

1460-2245

Language

English

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2016, The Authors

Issue

2

Publisher

OXFORD UNIV PRESS