At my son’s school, students are not allowed to buy at the cafeteria during break time—until they’re in third or fourth grade. I have been preparing his mostly vegetarian meals since he began preschool. And while I plan to do so till my kids get older, I understand how they may want to buy food in the school canteen someday.

I didn’t get an allowance until I was in high school. I ate whatever food was prepared at home. There was no fancy thermal packaging yet back in the day, so I mostly had rice drenched in Knorr seasoning and a lukewarm pork chop.

I didn’t really mind it in grade school, as I was too busy playing piko and patintero at noon anyway. Those yellow-painted piko and patintero lines have now faded, and students no longer play such games.

In the cafeteria, mostly fried, meat-centric food is sold, along with a wide selection of sweet treats.

My sister operates one of the concession stands offering Mexican fare. I suggested she sell healthier options such as brown rice upgrades or veggie meals in line with her concept. She said it wouldn’t fly, since most of the kids ask to have the vegetables taken out of their orders. Interestingly, this wasn’t the case in two other private schools where she’s also a concessionaire.

According to Department of Health National Nutrition Council officer Kristine Tensuan Vitasa, “Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 13, s. 2017 regulates what can be sold in school canteens. This is for public schools, though we encourage private schools to follow it, too.”

Three categories

She explained that, in the policy, there are three categories for food and beverages sold in school canteens: red, green and yellow. “Items under the green category should always be available. Items under yellow can be available twice a week, while those under red shouldn’t be sold at all.”

Examples of green items are milk, water and buko juice, rice, corn, boiled peanuts, seafood, lean meat, egg, fresh fruits and vegetables. Yellow items include fresh fruit juice, fried fruit, sandwiches, processed food and stir-fried vegetables. Red items include soda, caffeinated drinks, slushies, ice cream/popsies, cakes and pastries, fries, bacon, deep-fried food, canned and sweetened fruit.

“For public schools, DepEd regional and division offices monitor compliance quarterly and monthly,” said Vitasa. But private schools are reliant on the concessionaires and/or parents’ association.

Unaligned with reality

My son goes to a private school, which has well-meaning food guidelines posted on the cafeteria walls, but the message is not aligned with what is actually being sold. Items in the red category abound. Even during school fairs, food stalls sell hot dogs, ice cream and the like.

In effect, what our children are learning from their science or health subjects about eating healthy is only for getting correct marks in exams.

Canada has recently scored a win with its new and improved dietary guidelines for 2019 that emphasizes having more fruits and vegetables, eating more plant-based protein sources, choosing whole-grain food and making water the drink of choice. Dairy has been totally eliminated.

Francis Joseph Duavit is a self-proclaimed “glorified cook” at Duavit’s Kitchen, his private catering business.

Because of his arthritis, he’s been avoiding animal protein. Since changing diets in May 2018, he lost 20 lbs in two weeks. “I used to weigh 220, now I’m 197,” he said.

“All doctors tell arthritis patients to lose weight. Mine just said not to eat too much meat,” said Duavit.

“I cannot really say I’m vegan because I have cheat days,” he admitted. “When we eat out, I have mostly chicken or fish. It’s a transition for me, mainly for health reasons.”

Strict diet

“My wife Audee has gotten used to my daily feasts for her, but slowly I’ve been cutting down on her meat intake to twice a day, sometimes once,” said Duavit.

He added that his son Edward, 5, “is used to home-cooked meals and eats anything I give him. I’ve always been strict on his diet because he had leukemia three years ago. He doesn’t eat processed food, sweets, cakes, soft drinks and junk food.

“Ever since I cut down his meat intake, his bowel movement has improved. Before, he could go up to two days without pooping.”

Duavit is following Dr. John McDougall’s food pyramid and slowly adapting his diet. “His videos on YouTube were very encouraging, especially hearing him say that I can reverse and cure my arthritis,” said Duavit.

“My doctor just prescribed maintenance medication. I’m a work in progress and will be more vocal about this method when I cure myself.”

Duavit’s motivation to get healthy is Edward. “He’s just 5, and getting more active every day. I’m only 48, and I experience aches and pains already. I want to play football, basketball and maybe golf again.”

I hope private school canteens to be at least at par with public schools—stop selling items in the red category, and also to have viable options for vegetarian or vegan students.

Textbooks and reading materials should be supplemented with alternatives to meat and dairy, such as tofu, legumes, mushrooms, seeds and nuts.

We are all on our own journeys, and what we eat is very personal and cultural. I just wish we practiced what we preached more often by being better examples of healthy eating to our children.

We owe it to them, to help them make more informed choices.