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In a circular to all its affiliated schools in the country, the Central Board of Secondary Education has directed that junk food be taken off the canteen menu. Schools have also been asked inspect lunch boxes, create awareness about nutritious food and regularly monitor students' health.

The CBSE issued a circular following the Ministry of Women and Child Development's report addressing consumption of foods High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) and promotion of healthy snacks in schools. "Schools are required to ensure that there is no HFSS food available in the school canteens. In so far as possible in their capacity, schools are also urged to take the possible necessary steps to ensure non-availability of HFSS around 200 meters of the school," said the circular.

The board has asked schools to form a school canteen management committee. This seven member committee will include teachers, parents and students and decide the kind of food to be made available, check food quality, study canteen infrastructure requirements, design physical activity programs for students and avail expertise for canteen food.

Apart from taking care about the food in the premises, schools also have to create awareness regarding nutritious food by celebrating events like nutrition week from September 1 to 7. "It is once again reiterated that schools should regularly monitor the height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) for all the students and based on their trajectory, individualized counselling should be provided to each student and parents during Parent-Teacher Meeting. 

Inspection of lunch boxes to rule out consumption of unhealthy foods may be done by the schools," said the circular. Schools may hire nutritionists and advocate regular physical activities such as yoga along with other life style modifications.