Report from The STAR (Malaysia) dated 21 December 2011 :-
DESPITE the oft-touted benefits of breakfast, one in three children in Malaysia has a tendency to skip breakfast, according to local findings.
“That’s 30% of the children’s population. In other words, about three million children go to school hungry every day,” Loo Mei Fong, senior nutritionist of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, says of the results of her research.
Easy does it: Nutritionist Loo Mei Fong says it doesn’t take long to prepare a wholesome meal like this plate of fried beehoon that’s loaded with vegetables and seafood.
She attributes this largely to lifestyle and bad eating habits, adding that lack of time and appetite are the most common excuses cited.
“If the child has no appetite, then start with smaller portions,” she advises.
Calling on everybody to “never skip breakfast”, Loo reiterates that breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it provides energy, and that translates to a good start to one’s day.
“Children who take breakfast have been proven to be more attentive because they can focus better. In addition, studies have also found that these kids have a better immune system,” says the 33-year-old mother-of-one in a recent interview in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
As for taking the easy way out by asking the child to have breakfast at the school canteen, Loo comments that not all schools have strict guidelines where tuck shop food is concerned. Top of her complaints are vendors who sell soup noodles that are way too salty, or highly processed food like nuggets and sausages which are made even more unhealthy being deep-fried in recycled oil.
And there’s also junk food that’s high in sugar content, colouring, preservatives and not much else.
“If a child is constantly subjected to such high-energy foods, he is going to end up being obese,” warns Loo.
A solution to ensure a healthier breakfast for their children is to encourage them to pack food from home, she says.
“A good breakfast should include the five major food groups containing carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, protein, and milk and dairy.”
This, Loo adds, is hardly a tall order for busy mums as “15 minutes is all the time needed to prepare a wholesome meal”.
One yummy example is the ubiquitous milkshake. Pour milk into a blender, throw in chopped fruits like strawberries, honeydew or papaya, let it churn, and you’ll have all the natural goodness in one glass. For something more substantial, one can reach for a packet of cornflakes, add in some sliced bananas, and give this quick fix a delightful twist with chocolate milk.
Morning sandwiches served with a cold glass of milk can be another delectable affair to wake up to. Mash up some boiled eggs in low fat cream, add in tomato cubes or parsley, and spread the creamy paste over wholemeal bread with slices of lettuce in between.
Another of Loo’s favourite is to have mashed tuna with carrot strips lightly sprinkled with cheese in between two slices of toasted bread.
In preparing the most important meal of the day, parents have to remember that children from different age groups have different nutritional needs, she says.
From ages one to six, where a child’s physical growth is going at a rapid pace, the focus will be in healthy bone development. For this, a child will need to have enough calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and E to provide the body with the necessary nutrients for the purpose.
As a child progresses to the primary school years, he will need omega 3 and omega 6. These fatty acids, which can be found in deep sea fish like salmon and tuna as well as vegetable oils, are essential for brain development. For the extra energy required for sporting activities, vitamins B3 and B6 are just as important.
For both age groups, milk is the most complete food. There are nutrition-specific formulations to suit the two categories of children, such as Dutch Lady Kid and Dutch Lady School, Loo suggests. The good news is that both of these innovations come with a less-sugar variant.
“Impress upon your child that eating a proper breakfast is a must in his early schooling years and you will have helped him to inculcate good eating habits for life. If each parent does that, imagine how much the national health index would improve,” she concludes.
A head start with breakfast
It bears repeating: never skip breakfast.DESPITE the oft-touted benefits of breakfast, one in three children in Malaysia has a tendency to skip breakfast, according to local findings.
“That’s 30% of the children’s population. In other words, about three million children go to school hungry every day,” Loo Mei Fong, senior nutritionist of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, says of the results of her research.
Easy does it: Nutritionist Loo Mei Fong says it doesn’t take long to prepare a wholesome meal like this plate of fried beehoon that’s loaded with vegetables and seafood.She attributes this largely to lifestyle and bad eating habits, adding that lack of time and appetite are the most common excuses cited.
“If the child has no appetite, then start with smaller portions,” she advises.
Calling on everybody to “never skip breakfast”, Loo reiterates that breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it provides energy, and that translates to a good start to one’s day.
“Children who take breakfast have been proven to be more attentive because they can focus better. In addition, studies have also found that these kids have a better immune system,” says the 33-year-old mother-of-one in a recent interview in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
As for taking the easy way out by asking the child to have breakfast at the school canteen, Loo comments that not all schools have strict guidelines where tuck shop food is concerned. Top of her complaints are vendors who sell soup noodles that are way too salty, or highly processed food like nuggets and sausages which are made even more unhealthy being deep-fried in recycled oil.
And there’s also junk food that’s high in sugar content, colouring, preservatives and not much else.
“If a child is constantly subjected to such high-energy foods, he is going to end up being obese,” warns Loo.
A solution to ensure a healthier breakfast for their children is to encourage them to pack food from home, she says.
“A good breakfast should include the five major food groups containing carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, protein, and milk and dairy.”
This, Loo adds, is hardly a tall order for busy mums as “15 minutes is all the time needed to prepare a wholesome meal”.
One yummy example is the ubiquitous milkshake. Pour milk into a blender, throw in chopped fruits like strawberries, honeydew or papaya, let it churn, and you’ll have all the natural goodness in one glass. For something more substantial, one can reach for a packet of cornflakes, add in some sliced bananas, and give this quick fix a delightful twist with chocolate milk.
Morning sandwiches served with a cold glass of milk can be another delectable affair to wake up to. Mash up some boiled eggs in low fat cream, add in tomato cubes or parsley, and spread the creamy paste over wholemeal bread with slices of lettuce in between.
Another of Loo’s favourite is to have mashed tuna with carrot strips lightly sprinkled with cheese in between two slices of toasted bread.
In preparing the most important meal of the day, parents have to remember that children from different age groups have different nutritional needs, she says.
From ages one to six, where a child’s physical growth is going at a rapid pace, the focus will be in healthy bone development. For this, a child will need to have enough calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and E to provide the body with the necessary nutrients for the purpose.
As a child progresses to the primary school years, he will need omega 3 and omega 6. These fatty acids, which can be found in deep sea fish like salmon and tuna as well as vegetable oils, are essential for brain development. For the extra energy required for sporting activities, vitamins B3 and B6 are just as important.
For both age groups, milk is the most complete food. There are nutrition-specific formulations to suit the two categories of children, such as Dutch Lady Kid and Dutch Lady School, Loo suggests. The good news is that both of these innovations come with a less-sugar variant.
“Impress upon your child that eating a proper breakfast is a must in his early schooling years and you will have helped him to inculcate good eating habits for life. If each parent does that, imagine how much the national health index would improve,” she concludes.