by Elizabeth Kim
A continuation of the report of several Indian schools’ incorporation of the GoodWork Toolkit in classrooms, this post explores the ways in which GoodWork does not solely translate to the active work we do for society. Valsa Balaji of the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Sr. Sec School interprets GoodWork by looking inward through the lens of health and investigates how we can treat our bodies with excellence, ethics, and engagement.
Valsa realized the deep entwinement between healthy eating/living habits and academics. To battle the unhealthy eating habits of youth who readily turn to junk food and packaged synthetic food, Valsa launched a campaign that sought to achieve a number of objectives including: to impart knowledge of health benefits to the younger generation, to help students develop practical skills and self-confidence in planning meals, preparing foods, reading food labels, and making healthy food choices, and to enable students to critically analyze sociocultural influences, including advertising, on food selection. Valsa endeavored to promote consciousness of nutrition and to inculcate skills that would help students critically discern healthy foods from unhealthy ones.
Valsa and her team worked fervently on a number of initiatives to achieve this vision of healthy eating and healthy living. Some of the efforts they put forth included a campaign called “treat yourself to a healthy snack” in which students were encouraged to bring to school healthy snacks such as sprouts, nuts, apples, and corn. Moreover, children were trained to read and interpret food labels to inform their eating choices. A Health and Wellness Club was established to provide ongoing awareness of this cause. The members of this club participated in hands-on activities such as making low-calorie recipes, participating in yoga demonstrations, and producing a newsletter regarding health and wellness. Another important component of the project involved physical education instructors teaching about the unique nutrition needs of athletes. They elaborated on the right kinds of foods and the right amounts that are optimal for a fitness plan. For athletes must be mindful of foods to help sustain both performance and growth.
However, students were not the only participants in this project. The teaching staff partook in the activities alongside the students and strove to be role models through their healthy living habits. Several teachers, such as Ms. Annapoorna and Ms. Chitra of the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Sr. Sec School commented on how improving eating habits had a powerful impact on their body aches and sleeping patterns. Together in union with the students, the school seems to be encountering a potent wave of change towards health.
In considering future plans, it is clear that Valsa is committed to encouraging healthy eating throughout the school. She plans to reinforce messages of healthy eating to the cafeteria staff and to include more whole foods in the menu. Posters and fliers regarding nutrition will also adorn the walls of the cafeteria. Parents will be asked to continuously support and reinforced a balanced diet in preparing meals for their children and Valsa hopes to assign students nutrition education homework, which will need to be completed with their family. By encouraging all school staff and parents to join in the movement to practice healthy eating habits, Valsa challenges them to “be the change you want to see in the world.”