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Free-lunch project in rural areas ensures nutritious lunches

Reporter: Wu Haojun 丨 CCTV.com

06-11-2016 09:42 BJT

According to a national report released recently, children in China are healthier than ever before. Worryingly, however, cases of malnutrition are still being found in some poverty-stricken areas and children in rural areas remain shorter and lighter than their urban peers. But it's hoped a recent initiative can help these areas learn more about the value of nutrition.

Yin Jiang village in Zunyi city’s Jin Ding township is a typical Chinese village. More than 70 % of young people have gone to work in the big cities, leaving their children and the elderly behind. Ten-year-old Zhang Yushuang, and her one-year-old sister live with their grandparents. Their parents work in Zhejiang province. Yushuang does not like having breakfast and seems to be neglected by her grandmother.

"She did not have breakfast this morning. She is not hungry. I gave her some money to buy some snacks," said He Jinxiu, a villager of Yin Jiang village.

Her grandmother says she knows nothing about nutrition, and their life is quite simple with no consideration given to adjusting their diet. She usually cooks vegetables for Zhang Yushuang, but seldom meat. They buy fruit when Zhang’s parents give them more money.

In Zhong Xin school in the Jin Ding township, fresh meat and vegetables are provided for the pupil’s lunches. Normally, there are two dishes and a soup. And the menu differs from day to day. All the processes, from buying to cooking, are supervised to ensure security. The pupils seem to enjoy the lunches.

"I like the lunch in school. It tastes home-cooked, but it is more nutritious. Because there is both meat and vegetables," said Zhang Yushuang, a student of Zhong Xin school.

The school's principal says the pupils faced many problems at lunchtime before this initiative.

"Many parents have gone to work outside. Some students just buy snacks for lunch. Some have lunch in a small restaurant and some do not have lunch at all," said Wang Lin, Vice Principal of Zhong Xin school.

Although the school project has improved child nutrition in rural areas, for preschool children, who don't get these free lunches, it's difficult for them to get a nutritious meal. For parents in rural areas, they need to change their strategy at meal-times, from eating fully to eating healthily. But most of them are poorly educated. When it comes to food security and nutrition in China’s rural areas, there is still a long way to go.

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