Sunday June 5, 2011

Nutrition matters

By ALYCIA LIM
educate@thestar.com.my

With obesity on the rise among schoolchildren, it is easy to put the blame on canteen operators — but all parties have a role to play in promoting good dietary habits.

MICHAEL Koh remembers his primary school days where he used to eat a daily recess-time staple — a peanut butter and jelly sandwich packed by his father.

While his friends enjoyed buying food at the school canteen, Koh, now 27, says he ate his home-packed food faithfully until one day, his friend influenced him to start complaining about the same old “boring” food.

“I was fine with my bread until my friend started influencing me to complain because it was always the same food. But I understand why my father did what he did — it was for my own good as the food sold in the canteen were not healthy options for us.”

Many pupils have to rely on food sold at the canteen to keep them going throughout the day.

Being the better cook at home, Koh says his father often reminded them not to take too much salt or sugar, and such advice was something that had been ingrained into him.

Koh was one of the more privileged children who grew up healthy because his parents were aware of the importance of a balanced diet.

In April, the Health Ministry announced that schools must monitor every pupil’s Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements in a move to curb obesity among schoolchildren.

That spurred a hype on nutrition and school children in Malaysia, and canteen operators – accused of being part of the problem by selling junk food at school – have taken the big hit.

But before we point fingers, perhaps parents themselves should take a step back and think about their role in providing the best dietary intake for their child.

As National Heart Institute (IJN) dietetics and food services senior manager Mary Easaw-John says, “Many people think that nutritious foods are expensive, tasteless, and unrealistic, but the reality is that even traditional recipes can be easily modified into a healthier version.”

Nutrition simplified

Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) president Dr Tee E Siong says, “A balanced and simple approach to ensuring children obtain their energy and nutriet needs is to remember three basic points – balance, moderation and variety.”

He adds that to attain a balanced diet, parents can refer to the food pyramid as a guide to make sure that each meal has foods from the different levels of the pyramid.

A child learning about the food pyramid during the Nutrition Month Malaysia fair recently.

“There must be complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods, and milk and dairy products. Remember also to keep the amount of salt and sugar to the minimum amount required.”

He says that while the Health Ministry has not prepared a specific food pyramid for children, parents should remember that children need less servings compared to adults.

“We urge parents to use the food pyramid as a general indication and guide on what foods should be given, and how much to give to their children.”

Tee adds that there is no need to completely avoid any food group, including fat or sugar.

“Oils and fats are important and do provide energy, but excessive amounts should be avoided as excessive intake can result in unnecessary calories that the child is not able to use, and therefore become stored in the body – causing the child to become overweight or obese.”

He advises parents to be well-informed on the dietary guidelines, and to take action on providing the best for their children.

“Many parents are working and it is a challenge to prepare meals for their children every day.

“However, it is important to allocate some time to look into the nutritional needs of their children.”

Since the apple does not fall far from the tree, parents should also set good examples to ensure their children adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Dr Tee says, “One simple way for parents to encourage their children to eat healthily is to be good role models and practice healthy eating themselves. Children must see their parents eat healthily to believe and follow these practices.”

Agreeing with this statement, Easaw-John says that parents have a big role to play when it comes to giving their child food options.

“Children today are given too many choices. Sometimes, there should be a negotiation process. For example, if a child asks for sausages when chicken porridge is being served that day, they should be told to eat what they are served, and understand that they would be given sausages another day.”

When it comes to eating healthy, being in Malaysia and feasting on local delights is no excuse.

“There are simple and healthier options, such as making a banana pancake instead of cekodok pisang, cooking fried noodles with lots of vegetables and lean chicken meat or tuna, and with dishes like Uppuma (Indian dish made with semolina), for example, mixed vegetables and raisins can be added to increase fibre content.”

Canteen choices

School canteen operator Aimi Ali says that a normal menu at his canteen include soup noodles, boxed drinks, fruits, and varieties of kuih.

Having been a canteen operator for the past 18 years, Aimi says that the biggest problem he faces is dealing with the restrictions of food he is allowed to sell.

A mother shopping for fruits with her children at a supermarket. Parents should set good examples for their children by eating healthily themselves

“The Health Ministry has not actually issued any statement to say we are not allowed to sell certain foods, although suggestions have been made. However, there have been many parents who question the food I sell, so I have stopped selling nasi lemak, nuggets, hot dogs and burgers.”

While he has refrained from selling these products on the directive of school authorities, Aimi says it may be very difficult to serve only nutritious food, as they do not appeal to the pupils.

“I work in a primary school, and often, even with a little bit of vegetables, I notice that the children throw them away. It is also more expensive to cook individual dishes.”

Eight-year-old pupil G Jivanesh, who attends a primary school in Ampang, says during recess, he really enjoys eating the bread his mother prepares for him.

“I like to eat bread, and sometimes my mother will give me packed Milo. Some days, I am also given RM3 to buy food in school.”

Jivanesh adds that although he enjoys eating food from the school canteen, being able to bring food from home is a luxury not all pupils have.

While the choices of food in canteens may not be within the parents’ control, IJN senior dietitian Siti Farhath Sehu Allavuddin says parents should prepare a healthy lunch box set from home for their child at least three times a week, allowing their child to enjoy canteen food for the other two days.

“Parents should also make a survey at the school canteen on the available food choices and educate their children on appropriate choices,” she says.

Healthy home

Mother of three Tan Saw Gaik believes in giving her children options when it comes to food.

“Eating healthy does not mean that a child should have limited choices.”

She says that her 10-year-old daughter brings her home-packed food to school every day for break time, but never gets bored as she prepares food varieties such as omelettes with baked beans, french toast, sandwiches with egg, tuna, sardine or smoked salmon, and crackers with cheese.

“She gets to have a say in what she wants to eat. I usually ask her what she wants to bring to school, and work around that. There is no point in giving her something she doesn’t like because she may give them to her friends and end up buying food from school.”

Working full-time, Tan admits that it can sometimes be a handful with her two younger sons, but ultimately, it pours down to discipline.

“It is definitely time consuming, having to think about what to pack for my daughter every day, but I just have to wake up earlier to prepare her food.”

For Tan, eating healthy does not necessarily mean going fully organic.

“I try to buy organic leafy vegetables mostly, and free range chicken. But apart from that, I don’t think it is necessary.”

Eating out once a week is a luxury for the family, and fast food outings are limited to once a month.

“My daughter is so used to the food at home that fast food is no longer an attraction for her. I think if you give children a variety of good food, they will not crave for the unhealthy ones,” she says.

Likewise, with four children to care for, Shandy Lim says that canteen food is allowed only as an occasional treat or as a reward when her child does well in school.

With her youngest daughter in kindergarten and the eldest in Form Two, Lim says she sets ground rules at home where food is concerned.

“I tell my children that they have to eat the food I give them until they are in Year Four, which is when I start giving them pocket money sometimes to buy food.”

Also a working mother, Lim sends her children to after-school daycare, where they are fed home-cooked meals with a good balance of meat and vegetables.

“When my younger children complain about not getting to eat canteen food like their friends, I tell them they have to follow my rules, and that they should not complain because their elder siblings too did not get pocket money until they were older. However, if they do well for their test, I give them RM1 to buy food in the canteen for a day.”

While she cannot control what her children buy in school, she says she always reminds them not to take unhealthy food.

“I remind them every day, telling them not to buy too much fried food, or sweetened cold drinks, so hopefully they will remember and make wise decisions for themselves,” she says.

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Sunday June 5, 2011

Nutrition matters

By ALYCIA LIM educate@thestar.com.my

By ALYCIA LIM
educate@thestar.com.my