Nestlé Malaysia with participants, organisers and supporters of N4HK Parenpro at SK Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Marking its 14th year of instilling healthy eating habits among Malaysian schoolchildren, Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) is expanding its outreach through its Parent Engagement Programme (Parenpro) at SK Kepong Baru in Kuala Lumpur.
Partnering Education Ministry and the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), the programmes aim to help parents create lasting positive eating habits in children.
The outreach is part of Nestlé’s global N4HK move to enable 50 million children worldwide to lead healthier lives by 2030.
It also aligns with Nestlé’s “Good For You” strategy to make tasty and balanced diets accessible to billions of consumers.
The introduction of N4HK Parenpro comes at a crucial time.
According to Health Ministry’s Malaysian Dietary Guidelines for Children & Adolescents 2023, parents should be role models for their kids by practising healthy eating behaviour.
Research indicates that while children may have the knowledge, this may not be translated into habits at home.
Nestlé Malaysia group corporate nutrition manager Wong Mei Ching shared, “Poor nutrition is among key contributors to malnutrition issues among Malaysian children.
“These include undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
“By providing support and guidance for parents to better understand the value of healthy eating habits, we can help them become more actively involved in making better nutritional choices for their families.
“N4HK Parenpro aims to empower families with effective tools and knowledge needed to support children’s development through balanced nutrition and healthier lifestyles.”
NSM president Assoc Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty said, “The expansion of N4HK to include parent engagement is vital to enhance nutrition education in Malaysia.
“By bridging the gap between classroom learning and home environment, this initiative has the potential to support lasting behavioural changes in our local communities.”
More than 100 parents and children attended the inaugural N4HK Parenpro programme.
The event highlight was the “Together in the Kitchen” session which saw Malaysian celebrity Noor Nabila and six-year-old son Jebat Jayden showing how to prepare a simple, tasty and nutritious meal together.
Also on hand was nutritionist Afiqah Kahar who shared practical tips on incorporating fruits and vegetables into daily meals.
This culminated in a cooking competition which saw 10 pairs of parents and kids creating nutritionally balanced bento boxes.
Other activities involved meal planning, addressing common challenges faced by parents when feeding children, and lessons on the Malaysian Food Pyramid through interactive games.
There was also a cooking demonstration by a Professional Culinaire Association (PCA) chef in conjunction with International Chefs Day.
One of the longest-running nutrition education programmes in local primary schools, N4HK has benefitted more than 149,000 schoolchildren since its inception in 2010.
