Dr. Garth Officer, consultant nutritionist, said that the nutri-bun, milk and the cooked lunch provided under the Government's school-feeding programme is not a nutritious diet.
Dr. Officer explained that the millions being spent by the Government on the current diet could be utilised to provide a more balanced diet for the children that would enhance their learning capacity.
"If we mean good we would scrap the programme," Dr. Officer stressed.
FOOD PYRAMID
Dr. Officer said the State's school feeding programme should be guided by the six elements in the food pyramid. The pyramid, he said, includes the six nutrients that must be included in any balanced diet. These include protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins and water. "The dry bun and bulla not making it, all it is giving is some sugar and a little vitamin," he said.
Dr. Officer said he would not recommend one set menu, but would encourage a variety that includes the six fundamental nutrients. He said turn cornmeal cooked down in coconut cream with jelly coconut water is one of the possible substitutions.
He said white rice is not really nutritious and could be substituted with legumes/ground produce. He added that the chemicals used in rearing of locally produced chicken are not healthy either. He suggested that the Government consult a qualified nutritionist to revamp the programme.
