Povide healthy and affordable food choices for all on campus

Provide healthy and affordable food choices for all on campus?

At JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), we are committed to providing our students with accessible, nutritious, and affordable meal options on campus. Our dining program prioritizes health, quality, and diversity, allowing students to maintain balanced diets that support their well-being and academic success. Here’s a closer look at our commitment to quality, variety, and sustainability in campus dining.

Commitment to Nutritional Value, Quality, and Affordability

All food at JSS AHER hostels is prepared by in-house culinary staff who adhere to the high standards of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Meals are entirely vegetarian, featuring a balanced variety of grains, pulses, and fresh vegetables. In collaboration with the Nutrition and Dietetics (N&D) department, the hostel administration regularly reviews and updates the menu to ensure that it meets dietary needs and promotes overall health.

  • Affordable Pricing: Daily meal costs range from ₹75 to ₹175, with an average of ₹117, covering multiple beverages, a snack, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hostel residents pay an annual fee of ₹40,000 (about ₹110 per day), a cost-effective alternative to external dining options.

Diverse Menu Offerings


Our menu caters to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences, supporting students’ health and well-being through thoughtfully planned, nutritious meals. Below is a sample of our menu offerings for the JSS Medical College Boys Hostel during January 2024:

Suggested Image: Colorful buffet-style presentation of various vegetarian dishes, emphasizing fresh ingredients.

Day Breakfast Lunch Evening Snacks Dinner
Monday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Idli + Vada + Sambar Methi Chapati + Dry Aloo Palya + Vegetable Dal Paneer Patties + Nimbu Paani Chapati + Paneer Burji + Rice + Rasam + Papad
Tuesday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Vegetable Shavige Bath Palak Chapati + Rajma + Seasoned Rice + Papad Baby Corn Pepper Dry Chapati + Mixed Vegetable Palya + Rice + Soppin Sambar
Wednesday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Akki Roti + Chutney Chapati + Veg Kofta + Drumstick Sambar + Rice Masala Corn, Aloo Paratha + Curd Jeera Rice + Moong Dal
Thursday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Vangibath + Chutney Chapati + Bhendi Palya + Rice + Dal Curry Veg Roll + Nimbu Paani Methi Chapati + Rajma + Puliyogre
Friday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Masala Dosa + Aloo Palya Chapati + Beetroot Palya + Rice + Sprouted Green Gram Sambar Palak Pakoda Chapati + Dal Makhani + Vegetable & Mushroom Fried Rice
Saturday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Pongal + Chutney Chapati + Soya Curry + Rice + Radish Sambar Plum Cake Ragi Ball + Horse Gram Sambar + Curd Rice
Sunday Coffee + Tea + Badam Milk, Rava Idli + Vegetable Sagu Chole Bhatura + Seasoned Curd Rice + Payasa Vada Pav Paneer Paratha + Ghee Rice + Alu Peas Curry

Special Dietary Accommodations


We recognize and cater to diverse dietary preferences, including:

  • Vegetarian Options: All meals are vegetarian, offering a wide array of balanced, protein-rich dishes.
  • Vegan Choices: Dishes like vegetable shavige bath and sambar provide vegan-friendly options.
  • Gluten-Free Selections: Gluten-sensitive students can enjoy dishes like akki roti.
  • Organic Choices: We prioritize the use of fresh, locally sourced vegetables, ensuring high nutritional quality.

Quality of Ingredients


JSS AHER is committed to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. This approach not only ensures high nutritional quality but also supports local farmers, reduces transportation impact, and promotes sustainability.

  • Daily Offerings: Seasonal fruits like watermelon, bananas, and papaya are offered during breakfast and lunch. Fresh salads (cucumber, carrot, beetroot, etc.) accompany lunch and dinner daily.

Nutritional Transparency


We prioritize nutritional transparency to empower students to make informed dietary choices. Nutritional information is available for various menu items, helping students understand the caloric and nutritional content of their meals.

Sample Nutritional Breakdown

Item Calories Protein (g) Carbohydrates (g) Fat (g)
Aloo Paratha 264 kcal 4.75 g 38.17 g 10.76 g
Upma 108.4 kcal 3.12 g 16.57 g 3.03 g
Dal 68 kcal 3.40 g 8.12 g 1.67 g
Rajmah Curry 60.68 kcal 2.95 g 6.54 g 1.53 g

Encouragement of Healthy Choices


Through our transparent labelling and diverse menu, JSS AHER fosters a culture of health awareness. Nutritional information promotes conscious eating habits, encouraging students to prioritize their well-being.

Sustainable Practices and Locally Sourced Ingredients

Our institution prioritizes sustainable food practices:


  • Locally Sourced Ingredients: By sourcing fresh, seasonal produce locally, we support farmers and reduce our carbon footprint.
  • On-Campus Kitchen Gardens: Most of the vegetables required for hostel meals are grown in dedicated kitchen gardens on the campus. These gardens utilize organic compost prepared on-site, turning food and green waste into rich soil nutrients. This sustainable practice ensures that students receive healthy, organically grown food while reducing dependency on external suppliers.
  • Biogas Plant: Food waste is converted into renewable energy using biogas plants on campus.

The biogas generated is used as clean energy for cooking, helping to lower costs and minimize emissions.

Leftover Food Management and No-Landfill Policy


To minimize environmental impact, JSS AHER has implemented a no-landfill policy. Remaining food waste is donated to local pig farms, contributing to sustainable waste management and avoiding landfilling. Food waste is also collected, weighed, and composted at Gudalur, The Nilgiris.

The Food waste generated are weighed and carried in drums and subjected to composting at Gudalur, The Nilgiris.

Conclusion


JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research is dedicated to fostering a healthy campus environment by offering a wide variety of nutritious and affordable food choices. Our balanced menu, fresh ingredients, nutritional transparency, and commitment to sustainability create a holistic food program that supports student well-being and environmental responsibility.