Mothers, who run the household and who will be busier than usual this September when the 2017-2018 academic calendar starts, believe their children must take an active role in making the food choices for their lunchboxes.
Take it from Abu Dhabi residents Sukanya Suthipan, Mia Flor Balansag-Omerez, Nur Khalila Nordin and Herny Mulyani.
The quartet also allow their children to experience the so-called “cheat day” for the restricted binge on junk food.
Medcare Sharjah Hospital paediatrician specialist, Dr. Muhammad Hudyfa, said healthy lunchboxes contain half fruits and vegetables as well as half grains and proteins.
He added: “We have to know that calorie ranges are not absolute since calorie needs vary a lot based on age, size, activity level and whether or not kids have recently been sick.
“Calories are not the only thing we need to be aware of if we want our children to be healthy.”
Hudyfa, whose clinical expertise includes Child Nutrition and Assessment, emphasised that whereas the contents of healthy lunchboxes are either “skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, sugar-free or no-added-sugar drinks,” mothers and others in-charge of preparing the snacks and lunches of the brood must always see to it that water is not left out.
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