Roti, channa on menu

A release from the Education Ministry on Tuesday said the students can expect smart menu choices and an improvement in the nutritional profile of menu items supplied by the National Schools Dietary Services Ltd (NSDSL).

In a release to Newsday the Education Ministry said, NSDSL has introduced meals that included a variety of vegetables and local provisions.

The School Nutrition Programme menu for September to December 2006 has among the meals listed: curried channa and potatoes, with paratha roti, pumpkin or bodi or bhagi, mango or pommecythere chutney. On another day curried meat (chicken, beef, turkey or lamb) with dhal, steamed rice, mango chutney or sauteed bodi and carrots will be served.

There is also stewed chicken, beef or lamb with lentil peas and vegetable rice; or oven fried chicken, callaloo, steamed rice and sliced plantain.

The Education Ministry said breakfast items were the most popular for schoolchildren and has remained unchanged for the new term. It said, “Schoolchildren have shown a preference for an assortment of cheese spreads, cinnamon rolls, cucumbers, porridge and banana bread.”

The Ministry said luncheon menus which were among the favourite meals of schoolchildren included Italian chicken with Marinara sauce, savory elbow macaroni with vegetables, pizza, curry channa and potatoes with paratha roti.

It said, “While pizza is served on some days, the NSDSL has introduced meals that include a variety of vegetables and local provisions eg sauteed chicken franks with tomato, onion, sweet peppers; corn bake, pumpkin cake and melongene.”

To encourage students to eat vegetables, the NSDSL has also found ways to present them in an appealing way, such as the Asian wrap in which vegetables are wrapped in sada roti. The Ministry said it was introduced last term and was enjoyed by children.