Bengaluru schools ditch cakes and chips as CBSE, ICSE push healthy diets

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In response to recent advisories from India’s top educational boards, schools across Bengaluru are undertaking a quiet yet significant overhaul of their cafeteria offerings, moving away from sugary and oily snacks to more wholesome alternatives.

Both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) have directed affiliated schools to take concrete steps to reduce students’ sugar intake. As a result, cakes, pastries and sugary drinks are disappearing from school tuck shops, replaced by makhanas, roasted peanuts, boiled egg sandwiches and whole fruits, TOI reported.

Citing the health risks of excessive sugar, including rising cases of Type 2 diabetes among children, the boards have also asked schools to display informative signboards on permissible daily sugar intake and the long-term dangers of processed foods.

At Delhi Public School-North, the shift is being led by the student council. As reported by TOI, Ujwal H, a class 11 student, explained their strategy: rather than imposing sudden bans, changes are being introduced gradually to build a culture of healthy eating. The school has already phased out cakes and high-sugar drinks, replacing them with yoghurt and fruit.

Aarush BS, another student involved in the reform, was cited by TOI as saying that regular items such as vegetable puffs have been cut down to twice a week. “We've added protein-packed egg and paneer puffs as healthier swaps. Boiled egg sandwiches are also an addition, so students aren't left with only puff-based snacks,” he noted.

TOI highlighted similar initiatives in other institutions. At Navkis Education Centre in Gokula, sweets and chocolates are no longer distributed during school events. Instead, dry fruits are being handed out during functions like Independence Day and Children’s Day, principal Seema Gupta told the newspaper. Signboards explaining children’s recommended sugar intake have also been installed across the campus.

Meanwhile, at St Joseph’s Boys High School, principal Fr Sunil Fernandes confirmed that the school is working with its outsourced canteen vendor to slowly discontinue the sale of processed food. “The contractor may have stocked up on some items, so we’ve told them not to replenish once those are sold,” he said, adding that helping children “unlearn” unhealthy food habits is key, TOI reported.

Presidency School-Bangalore South, which had already kept junk food off its menu, is now expanding its awareness initiatives. “After the CBSE circular, we've started special sessions with doctors on healthy eating. These issues are being discussed in class assemblies too,” director and principal J Bhuvaneswari was quoted as saying.

The CBSE circular was prompted by rising health concerns, especially the growing number of young children diagnosed with diabetes. The advisory pointed out that overconsumption of sugar is linked not just to diabetes, but also to obesity, dental problems and broader metabolic disorders - conditions that can severely affect a child’s wellbeing and academic performance.