With September marking Childhood Obesity Awareness Month there’s no better time to start thinking about your child’s diet and the effect it has on their lifestyle; and it all starts with their lunch box.
According to a report based on a 2013 study led by Dr Abdulla Al Junaibi, consultant endocrinologist at Zayed Military Hospital one in three children in the UAE is overweight or obese. The research, conducted on 1,440 children and teenagers aged six to 19, revealed that 14.2 per cent were overweight and a higher 19.8 per cent were obese, putting them at risk for chronic illnesses, including hypertension and diabetes.
The startling figures means it’s more important than ever to educate children about healthy eating, and the perfect place to start is with the school packed lunch.
Determined to help get the message across, and to help super-busy parents that don’t have time to, Right Bite has launch Lunchbox Gourmet, a service to help parents provide proper nutrition to their children while at school.
With a team of highly-qualified dietitians and chefs, Right Bite prepares a selection of delicious school lunches packed with nutrition, yet guaranteed to appeal with the children.
Parents can subscribe their kids to the Lunchbox Gourmet programme for one week or up to a month or more. The daily Lunch Box includes a main meal, a side dish, a choice of dairy beverage and a fruit snack prepared fresh daily by Right Bite chefs. Parents can also opt to add an afternoon snack to the daily package. Lunchbox Gourmet meals are delivered right to the subscriber’s doorstep during the school week.
Experts agree that schools play a critical role in helping end childhood obesity. Schools, with ample support from the parents, can plant the seeds for good nutrition amongst children and develop in them healthy eating habits. When children are consistently taught the same values about healthy eating at school and at home, they learn that nutrition is important. Parents who are determined to teach their kids to eat well, take into great consideration the food they eat while at school.
Nathalie Haddad, Founder and Managing Director, The Right Bite Nutrition and Catering Services L.L.C., said: “As parents, we all want to raise happy, confident and healthy children. We love to pamper our kids but when it comes to their health and nutrition, there should never be any concession. Teaching them healthy eating habits at a young age can reap benefits for them well into their adult life. We must understand the long-term implications of childhood obesity.”
To contact the Right Bite Nutrition Centre, call (04) 3388763 and (04) 3425208. Or visit right-bite.com
However, it’s not all about the diet, kids shouldn’t be stuck at home in front of the TV, they need to be active. Here’s a fun idea to keep them fit.
