The Ministry of Education has officially banned fried food items in all its canteens, including those in government offices and educational institutions. This decision comes in line with CBSE’s recent circular urging schools to promote healthy eating habits among students. The Ministry has instructed all departments to remove items like samosas, pakoras, chips, and deep-fried snacks from their menus and replace them with nutritious alternatives such as fruits, salads, idlis, and sprouts. The move is aimed at improving the overall lifestyle and health awareness of both students and staff.

I wanted to write about this topic because I feel it’s a big step forward for promoting better eating habits, especially in schools. Many of us have grown up with canteen menus full of oily snacks that are tasty but unhealthy in the long run. Now that lifestyle diseases like obesity, high BP, and diabetes are rising even among school children, it’s high time schools take nutrition seriously. This initiative is not just about banning junk food, it’s about creating awareness and helping young students make healthier choices early in life. As someone who’s seen the impact of poor eating habits first-hand, I strongly feel schools and workplaces must lead by example.

What the Ban Actually Covers

According to the official instructions from the Ministry, the following types of food will no longer be allowed in school or office canteens:

• Fried snacks like samosas, kachoris, pakoras, fries, and chips
• Deep-fried sweets like jalebis, gulab jamuns, and imartis
• Sugary soft drinks and aerated beverages
• Packaged snacks high in salt, sugar, and fat
• Bakery items made with maida (refined flour), like cream buns and pastries

Instead, the guidelines suggest offering:

• Boiled or steamed items like idlis, dhoklas, and upma
• Seasonal fruits and fresh-cut salads
• Nuts, seeds, and roasted snacks
• Coconut water, buttermilk, lemon water, and plain drinking water

Canteens are also encouraged to use whole grains and avoid reheating oil or reusing old cooking oil.

What Triggered This Health Push

This ban is not random. Earlier this year, CBSE sent out a health advisory to all its affiliated schools asking them to stop serving junk food on school premises. The board highlighted how children today are becoming increasingly vulnerable to non-communicable diseases at a young age due to poor eating habits. It also mentioned the importance of integrating health education with daily school life, which includes what students eat in canteens.

The Ministry of Education has now extended this concept to all its institutions and offices, which means the health focus is not just for students but also for the people who run the system.

What It Means for Students and Staff

From what I’ve seen, children often pick up food habits from what’s easily available around them. If the school canteen sells only samosas and chips, students will end up buying those—even if they have a healthy lunchbox. But when the menu changes and only healthy options are available, students slowly adjust and try new things. That’s exactly what this move is trying to achieve.

Even for office staff and teachers, this ban could lead to more mindful eating. Teachers influence children, so when they choose a fruit plate over a fried snack, it sets an example for students. It also helps improve overall productivity and energy levels throughout the day.

How Schools and Offices Can Implement This

It won’t be easy for every institution to switch overnight, but here are some practical steps that can help:

• Audit the current canteen menu and remove all banned items
• Train canteen staff to prepare healthy, low-oil snacks
• Involve parents and send reminders about healthy tiffins
• Put up posters or info charts about balanced diets and nutrition
• Organise monthly nutrition talks or interactive sessions
• Offer subsidised prices for healthy items to encourage more people to buy them

Not Just a Ban—It’s About Long-Term Behaviour Change

Let’s be honest—most of us enjoy a samosa or pakora once in a while. So this move is not saying “never eat fried food again.” It’s about reducing daily exposure to unhealthy food, especially in school environments where children are still forming their habits. The idea is to build a culture of moderation and awareness.