The National - News

‘Reduce unhealthy choices for pupils’

Experts want to take temptation off the menu in school canteens to help educate children about healthy eating

- Nick Webster nwebster@thenationa­l.ae

DUBAI // Children’s apathy towards eating healthy food needs to be overcome by putting fewer unhealthy options on school canteen menus, experts say.

Pupils at a Dubai school were asked about the fare served in their canteen. Although the menu had healthy offerings such as green salads, lentil soup, sweet-and-sour fish and chicken fajitas, each with listed calorie content, one counter sold calorie- loaded pastries, muffins and cakes.

“I use the canteen on Thursdays as it’s easy,” said Narindra, 15. “I buy a chicken, cheese and mayo panini and a juice. The food is healthy but I don’t care that much.

“You can buy jacket potatoes, which are healthy, but you can also buy sorbet and pastries.”

Ishram, 12, uses the canteen twice a week. “I buy pizzas, cookies and a sorbet – it is quite expensive,” he said.

Roland, 14, said the best thing on sale was ice cream.

“The canteen also sells hot sandwiches,” he said. “There is some healthy food to choose from but some of it costs Dh25. It is mainly used by teachers.”

Christina Spong, a British teacher who has worked at several Dubai schools, said children must be offered good-quality food for them to choose healthier alternativ­es.

“I used to find pupils who had not had breakfast were the least likely to pay attention to the morning lesson,” she said.

“After lunch, I could tell which children had eaten sweets or junk food as they were hyperactiv­e.

“By the end of the day, the children who had not eaten well were tired, struggling to concentrat­e and falling asleep.

“It was clear their diet was having a negative effect on their school day.

“I would often ask students who had eaten a proper breakfast, and it varied greatly.

“Most were eating something but quite a few were eating pastries or doughnuts.

“There was no restrictio­n to what they could eat in the canteen.”

Child diabetes specialist Dr Shadi Hani Tabba said that providing smaller portion sizes was just as important as content.

“Portion control gives children an idea of what is a healthy amount of food to eat, and helps deliver that message,” he said.

“There should be restrictio­ns on what schools are selling in their canteens. Some parents are doing a great job at home with their child’s diet then the child goes to school and has crisps, pastries and fizzy drinks.”

 ?? Alex Atack for The National ?? Child diabetes specialist Dr Shadi Hani Tabba said there should be restrictio­ns on what schools sell in their canteens. He also said schools should control the portion sizes available.
Alex Atack for The National Child diabetes specialist Dr Shadi Hani Tabba said there should be restrictio­ns on what schools sell in their canteens. He also said schools should control the portion sizes available.
 ?? Anna Nielsen for The National ?? Deira Internatio­nal School has made a change to provide healthier lunch options for their pupils.
Anna Nielsen for The National Deira Internatio­nal School has made a change to provide healthier lunch options for their pupils.

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