GEORGE TOWN: Busy parents may rely on school canteen operators to feed their children but the rising food and operating costs may lower the quality of food at schools.
Dietitian Jazeera Julaili said children from the age of seven and above were in a crucial developmental phase and needed a high amount of calories and protein while girls approaching puberty also required among other essential nutrients, a large amount of iron.
“The Health Ministry has a set of guidelines for school canteen operators on what can be sold, especially processed food,” she added.
She said schools could help by creating stricter guidelines for canteen operators and educating children on the importance of healthy meals.
However, she noted that not everyone could comply with all the nutritional guidelines.
“They can only try their best,” she said.
For parents, ensuring that their children consume good quality food and have a balanced diet is challenging.
V. Padmanathan, 38, said he and his wife felt guilty about having their children eat at the school canteen.
“Both of us are health-conscious people but we have no choice and let them eat at school because we are working.
“They usually have a bowl of cereal with milk at home,” he said.
“During recess, they will eat noodles, burgers, fried rice or snacks. These are all carbs with little protein, nothing really nutritious.”
The engineer said he once raised his concerns about the school canteen not offering more vegetables and fruits at a Parent-Teachers Association meeting but there was not much improvement.
A mother of two, Ooi Su Ching, 41, said she catered food for her children from their school canteen at RM3.50 a meal for upper primary pupils and RM3 for lower primary pupils.
“The meals usually comprise a combination of minced meat, crabsticks or sausages with eggs and vegetables, served with noodles, bread or rice,” she said.
Ooi felt that the prices were reasonable.
“I tried to prepare simple food like egg sandwiches, steamed buns or porridge for them to bring to school but stopped because I am no expert in cooking and planning my time,” she said.
“Waking up early to cook and clean did not work out because I also have a business to run.”
The businesswoman observed that her children loved the canteen food, which appeared clean, delicious and balanced to her.
Penang Medical practitioner society president Datuk Dr Tan Kah Keong said the nutritional aspect of school canteen food had always been a point of discussion not only in Malaysia but all developing countries.
“At the end of the day, the canteen operators are business people who need to make a profit.
“To me, breakfast is crucial, even if it is just something eaten during school recess,” he added.
Penang Community Care president Wendy Ang said some parents of poor families would pack food for their children to take to school.
“Canteen food may be too expensive, although some schools do sponsor breakfast for children of underprivileged families.
“Usually, lower-income families prepare bread or biscuits for their children,” she said.
