News 1+1丨What kind of changes does a "nutritious meal" bring?

  This year is the tenth year of the implementation of the "Nourishment Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students".

Recently, an evaluation report jointly completed by the Department of Education and Finance in conjunction with the China Development Research Foundation shows that the nutrition improvement plan has achieved remarkable results in the past ten years, and basically achieved "every penny is not wasted."

From "not eating enough" to "eating well," the nutrition improvement program has increased the fitness rate of nearly 38 million students by 16 percentage points.

From 3 yuan per day per birth to 4 yuan per day per birth, to now 5 yuan per day per birth, a "nutritious meal", what kind of change?

  Soybeans are steamed with rice and steamed buns with boiling water. 15 years ago, the nutritional status of students in rural areas was worrying

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: 15 years ago, we investigated in Duan, Guangxi, that children lived in school, but they could only eat rice and steamed soybeans every day.

In the northwest, they just brought steamed buns to drink water in class.

After calculation, these foods can only satisfy 60%-80% of their calories. Protein, fat, trace elements, and vitamins are all deficient, which is reflected in the height of the child.

According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2006, 13-year-old children in rural areas were only equivalent to the height of 11-year-old children in cities, which was two age groups behind.

  It is not only the poor height, but also the poor nutrition in all aspects, and the students are not energetic in class.

Some children said that during morning exercises, some students fainted, and it is also common to eat two meals a day.

Therefore, the children in school, it is just that the food production cannot be increased, and public services are needed to cook for them so that they can eat and have nutritious meals.

  A "nutritious meal" can not only make children grow taller, but also improve academic performance

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: What we can see is height, but what we can't see are changes in the brain.

Hunger will affect children in many parts of the brain, such as difficulty concentrating, more negative emotions, and lower moral sense.

  Since someone cares, someone cooks for them, and can eat nutritious meals, their attention in class will be more concentrated, their physical fitness will be better, their non-cognitive abilities have also improved, and their academic performance has also improved.

  Is 5 yuan per person per day enough for children in underdeveloped areas?

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: We have done a calculation, 5 yuan or the original 4 yuan, it can meet the basic nutritional needs of children.

A lunch has more than 800 calories, 27 grams of protein, vitamins, and trace elements, which may be enough. It lacks a little calcium, etc., and needs to be supplemented in other ways.

  A master chef in the city once cooked a meal in an elementary school in Guizhou. A meal consisted of one meat and two vegetables, and one soup, which cost 4 yuan.

The 4 yuan in the city may not be enough for the children's dim sum money, but the 4 yuan in the countryside, what they need most is a steamed bun, which is the highest marginal income.

  How does the "Ten-Year Nutritional Meal Improvement Plan" ensure food safety and financial security?

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: Meals are now provided in two forms: ① Meals are provided in the school’s own cafeteria.

②The company operates the centralized meal supply, but the Ministry of Education does not advocate this model.

  Overall, in the past 10 years, our country has implemented improvements in student nutrition in vast rural areas. It should be said that food safety has been guaranteed, no major accidents have occurred, and financial safety is also guaranteed. If the country spends 200 billion yuan on nutrition, In comparison, 170 million problems occurred in the middle, and they have been corrected. In the past two years, this has not happened again. These are all controllable.

But we must control and don't let the market solve this problem. This is a public service, and the most effective way is to provide meals in the cafeteria.

  The "Rural Nutrition Improvement Plan" has gone through ten years, and legislation will be passed in the future to prioritize the health of children

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: The "Rural Compulsory Education Student Nutrition Improvement Program" has been implemented for 10 years. Based on this situation, it is perfectly possible to pass legislation to clarify funding issues and clarify the responsibilities of the central and local governments.

It took 7 years to increase from 4 yuan to 5 yuan, which is too long.

  There will always be financial difficulties. It is nothing more than the priority of the square, the beautification of the city, the health of the children, and the nutrition of the children.

The beautiful city may be visible, while the height of the child and the performance of the child in school may be invisible, but the latter is real and necessary for our long-term development.

  In addition to the achievements in the "Ten-Year Nutritional Meal Improvement Plan", what hope do you see?

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: In 10 years, the nutritional status of nearly 38 million children has been improved. They are now in high school, and there will be 40 million in the next 10 years of the project. These children have not survived. Hungry, I didn’t say that I was too hungry, and there is no memory of hunger. They are healthier, more sunny, and learn better. They are our main force in building a modern and powerful socialist country in the future.

  The return on funds of the "Rural Nutritional Meal Improvement Plan" is 1:5, and children in preschool education should also be included in the plan

  Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation: Now rural kindergartens are generally built in idle classrooms in elementary schools, that is, when their brothers and sisters eat, they leave school, and they have to watch their brothers and sisters eat, which is very unreasonable.

Guizhou Province paid for kindergartens in elementary schools and also provided 3 yuan of nutritious meals. This approach is correct.

  In addition to nutrition and health, early education of children is very important.

The country has spent 200 billion on nutrition. We have calculated that this return should be 1:5, with a return of 1 trillion.

Now for these children who lack the care of their parents and the opportunities for early education, we should provide them with help and spend money in this area.