Mumbai Public School L.K. Waghji International (IGCSE)

Healthy food for healthy lives

Mumbai Public School L.K Waghji International (IGCSE), a state
kindergarten and primary school in Mumbai, India, has taken significant strides to foster
healthy lifestyles among its students. Faced with the challenge of students consuming junk food
like chips and chocolates, leading to poor nutrition and significant food wastage, the school
launched the "Mission Healthy Food" project. This initiative aimed to transform eating habits
and promote overall wellbeing.

Despite facing low funding, the school has embraced a mission to
excel in research and innovation, particularly focusing on the holistic development of its
students. The project began with educational sessions led by renowned paediatricians and
doctors, who taught teachers and students about the ill effects of junk food and the benefits of
a balanced diet. The school then engaged parents through informative sessions, using innovative
resources like rangoli to highlight the importance of nutritious meals. This comprehensive
approach included the implementation of a 21-day healthy food challenge, where students were
rewarded with stars for bringing healthy lunches.

As a result of the initiative, more students now eat the nutritious,
school-provided lunch, leading to an increased need for food supplies. The visible reduction in
junk food packaging waste and the increase in fresh fruit peelings in dustbins are testament to
the project's success. Additionally, students have become proactive in promoting healthy eating,
both within the school and at home.

The school has also integrated its healthy food mission into its
curriculum by having students create board games on healthy eating. This hands-on approach
reinforced healthy habits and fostered creativity and collaboration among students.

Winning the World's Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives
would enable Mumbai Public School L.K Waghji International to reward its students further,
exhibit their achievements, and share their successful practices with other schools, thereby
promoting a culture of health and wellness across the community.