International School Meals Day

The habit of eating healthy foods, rich in essential vitamins, minerals and microelements, is formed in a child not only in the family The menu for school lunches and breakfasts is formed taking into account the age needs of children, a balanced content of vegetables and fruits, dairy products, fish and meat A holiday was established to raise public awareness about the extent to which food served in educational institutions affects the health and mental development of children International School Feeding Day is celebrated on the second Thursday of March every year International School Meals Day was first held in the UK and the USA in 2013 The movement, initially coordinated by the Children of Scotland organization, eventually spread throughout the world According to statistics, about 368 million children eat at school every day Most schoolchildren are fed in schools in India The country feeds 120 million children attending educational institutions The mental and physical development of the child, the absence of obesity and other pathologies of the body depend on the quality and correct choice of food products This is why it is so important to pay attention to school food The international movement, which is coordinated by Children in Scotland staff, has found support from partners around the world As a sign of solidarity with the founders of the celebration, posts with the hashtag #internationalschoolmealday are posted on social networks In honor of the holiday, seminars, master classes and other educational events are held They are aimed at expanding the ideas of adults and children about the benefits of healthy food and the national characteristics of the cuisines of different nations In 2018, on School Meal Day, a competition of recipes for children's dishes was held among more than 100 participants The top 20 were included in the cookbook published by the organizers of International School Meals Day School-age children should be provided with healthy and tasty food, regardless of place of residence and education, family social status and other factors Therefore, under the auspices of the World Food Program, a charitable food distribution is held in honor of the holiday Donations collected for School Meal Day are used to provide meals to children from economically disadvantaged countries and those living in war-torn regions In Russia, students have breakfast and lunch in the canteens of educational institutions Food for children is supplied by food factories or prepared in school catering units The menu, which is compiled in accordance with SanPiN requirements, is updated weekly A nutritious and balanced diet helps improve performance and academic performance, the physical and mental development of children and adolescents, prevents diseases, and creates conditions for students to adapt to adult life after leaving school Therefore, in the Russian Federation, as well as throughout the world, International School Meals Day is held annually