Plan to get nannies in the loop of healthy diet habits
dubai — Taking care of children can be very challenging for parents. Given that several mothers in the UAE are working women, much of the primary caregiving responsibilities — especially of providing food and nutrition to children — are performed by nannies.
The Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children’s (AJCCC) official nutritionist, Sheikha Al Ahbabi, said: “In several households across the UAE, housemaids double up as nannies. In most cases, these women are not educated and are unaware of what is healthy for children and what’s not.”
Speaking to Khaleej Times at the sidelines of the press conference that announced the launch of the centre’s January-February cultural activities, Al Ahbabi stated that the centre will launch a free event for nannies, caregivers, parents, and children on the importance of nutritious food consumption.
The event, ‘The Loop’, is set to take place on February 3 and will host over 140 people including parents, nannies, and children. Pre-registration can be done by visiting the centre at Umm Suqeim 3 or over the phone.
Al Ahbabi and the centre decided to launch the programme, after noticing that students at the AJCCC were bringing in junk food such as a cheese slice sandwiches, biscuits and juices for major meals. “We have to face the facts: in many households across the UAE, nannies are the primary caregivers. This programme is aimed at educating them on what’s healthy for the family,” she added. The programme was devised after thorough research of school lunchboxes and conversations with parents and families.
The programme will also inform nannies on the importance of the right way of storing food in refrigerators and cupboards, to avoid rotting, mould and spread of bacteria. “For example, the door of the refrigerator is the warmest area and parents must avoid storing milk and other dairy products there, because it is prone to getting spoilt much faster. Instead, place these inside the fridge cabinet,” Al Ahbabi pointed out.
We have to face the facts: in many households across the UAE, nannies are the primary caregivers. This programme is aimed at educating them on what’s healthy for the family.”
Sheikha Al Ahbabi, official nutritionist, AJCCC
She added that children must be served four major food components in their daily lunch: grains, in the form of toast or pasta; fruits and vegetables, which should comprise half the meal; protein, both plant or animal-based; and dairy, also regular or plant-based like soy milk.