CHANDIGARH: The Food Safety Department of Chandigarh Administration in association with Department of School Education and Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology launched an initiative “Chandigarh School Mission’to promote millets in the Schools here on Friday. Under the mission awareness will be spread about safe food and nutrition, promotion of Millets is to be carried out in each School of Chandigarh by way of displaying live Millets recipes.
The initiative was launched by the Mr. Yashpal Garg, Secretary, Health-cum-Commissioner Food Safety, Chandigarh in an event organized at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector-10, Chandigarh. Mr. H. S. Brar, Director School Education, Mr, Vishal Kalia, Principal, CIHM were also present during the event.
Principals of various schools, teachers, Mid-Day meal workers and students attended the event. Live recipes of Pearl Millets Salad, Little Millets Pongal and Foxtail Millets Kheer were demonstrated by the Chef Vinay of CIHM
It is pertinent to mention that year 2023 being declared as International Year of Millets. Millets are considered to be “powerhouses of nutrition” which have “high nutritive value” are now regarded as “Nutri Cereals” for the purposes of production, consumption, and trade.
Millet is a nutritious grain and is beneficial for maintaining good health. More than anything, it is a powerhouse of fiber, protein, iron and copper, making it a must to be included in the diet of kids and aged people too. When it comes to planning a proper diet for kids, it is a must that one should incorporate all-important nutritional aspects in their diet for proper growth. Millet is also considered a wonder food for kids as the delicious grain plays a vital role in a child’s growth and development. In fact, a new study has found that replacing rice with millet-based mid-day meals in schools can improve the growth of children by more than 50 per cent.