By Sumathi V. Selvaretnam

THE canteen at Canberra Primary goes vegetarian once a fortnight.

Instead of nasi lemak and wonton mee, pupils choose from vegetarian options such as macaroni with vegetables, tofu sambal and mock meat dishes.

Vice-principal Shoeb Burhanuddin said: 'Children this age like fried food like sausages and nuggets. We want to encourage them to eat healthily so that over time, they will know what makes a balanced diet.'

He added that it was necessary to go beyond explaining the food pyramid to helping pupils understand the importance of eating well.

In the school, as part of an integrated mathematics and English lesson, pupils are taken to a supermarket and taught how to buy ingredients that go into a fruit salad.

Other schools also offer healthier food options in their canteens and come up with novel ways to encourage their pupils to eat better.

The five-year-old Model School Tuckshop Programme gives tuckshop vendors of participating schools guidelines on healthier recess-time options.

As of last year, nine in 10 schools were on the programme.

To attain 'Model Tuckshop' status, the vendors have to, for instance, sell drinks with the 'Healthier Choice' logo, which identifies drinks with less sugar.

Another requirement is that they sell deep-fried foods and preserved meat only once a week. They also have to use skinless poultry and lean meat in their food and give adequate portions of greens.

Some schools reward their pupils for making healthier food choices.

Bukit View Primary, which has banned fried foods, runs the Fruity Veggie Bites Programme, in which canteen vendors issue cards to pupils who order servings of fruit or vegetables. The class with the most cards each month wins a prize.

Ms Ng Shu Yee, a teacher there, said: 'If they don't develop the habit in the first place, they won't have the urge to eat right.'

Pupils also read health magazines like Mind Your Body and clip out useful articles to be shared in class.

Tom Lorenzo, 12, a pupil in the school, said: 'I used to say 'yuck' when I saw green vegetables, but now I eat them because it is healthy.'

Over at Edgefield Primary, a vending machine dispenses fresh fruit in a sealed cup for 70 cents - even after the canteen is closed for the day.

Another school, Huamin Primary, organises Fruity Month, during which pupils sit down with their teachers to feast on free watermelons, papayas and apples thrice a week before ordering any other food at recess.

Parents like Madam Haslinda Abdul Jabal, 35, whose daughter in Canberra Primary eats at least two meals in school, said it was important that they are balanced ones.

'She didn't use to want to eat fruits and vegetables. Now, she wants us to have a vegetarian day at home as well.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 22 Sep, 2008.

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