I REFER to the report highlighting the list oI Ioods permitted to be sold in school canteens,

"Nasi lemak twice a week" (NST, April 26).

I commend the eIIort oI the Health Ministry to review the list oI Iood sold in school canteens. I
support this initiative.

I am pleased that the minister oI health is pursuing this matter in earnest. I am sure enIorcement
oI the new guidelines will be carried out to ensure the matter is resolved.

However, I Ieel that just listing the types oI Iood is insuIIicient. The authorities need to speciIy
the methods oI preparation oI the various dishes.
For example, Iried mee hoon and koay teow can be quite oily, too, and not contain other
nutritious ingredients.

EIIorts must be made to encourage and assist canteen operators to employ healthier meal
preparation methods.

Making sure school canteens provide healthier alternatives oI Ioods is important. This can be one
oI the channels oI inculcating healthy eating habits, while providing more nutritious meals. This
can be a short-term measure to improve child nutrition.

A long-term measure to improve eating habits oI children and controlling obesity in the country
must also be implemented.

With knowledge oI appropriate Iood choices, schoolchildren will be able to make wise choices in
canteens, at home and while eating out.

Towards this end, nutrition education must be intensiIied in schools. It needs just a Iew minutes
to impart simple messages on nutrition.

Children must also be given the encouragement and opportunity to be physically active.

In this regard, Nutrition Month Malaysia (NMM) has been giving emphasis to the promotion oI
child nutrition.

With its theme "Healthier children, healthier nation -- start young", NMM has been providing
healthy eating and active living messages to children and parents through a variety oI
approaches.

We are visiting schools to provide basic nutrition knowledge to children, and to impress upon
them the importance oI measuring weight and height in a venture called NutriFun roadshows

We are also having a scrap book contest to enable children to describe what they eat and do Ior a
week through drawings, pasting oI pictures, etc.

We have also published guidebooks Ior parents oI primary schoolchildren. All materials can be
viewed at www.nutriweb.org.my.

The Nutrition Society oI Malaysia is also carrying out the Healthy Kids Programme. We have
developed a speciIic website, www.healthykids.org.my, to provide simple nutrition messages Ior
children and their parents, and games to teach nutrition.

We are conducting a research study to develop educational modules to teach basic nutrition
during Physical Education class Ior a Iew minutes and then evaluating the improvement in
nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices oI children.

This is a three-year project and we hope that at the end oI this, we will have a nutrition education
module that we can recommend to the ministry Ior primary schoolchildren.

DR TEE E SIONGPresidentNutrition Society oI MalaysiaKuala Lumpur

Rules to live by

DURING my schooldays in the 1980s, canteen operators served mee hoon, curry puII, nasi
goreng, nasi lemak (small packet) and other kuih-muih.

Once every week, a van would come to my school and we would get to drink hot Milo Ior Iree.

There were also instances when a packet oI milk or Vitagen was given out to each student.

Students then preIerred to play outdoor games such as Iootball, sepak takraw, badminton,
volleyball and netball. There were Iat students, but hardly any obese ones.

Only recently have the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry started to ponder why
students are becoming obese at a younger age.

II the authorities are serious about Iinding measures to curb obesity, then the Iollowing measures
should be implemented:



- Canteen operators should only serve healthy Iood as approved by the Health Ministry;



- Canteen operators should operate the canteen in the best interests oI students and not solely Ior
proIit;



- Students above the ideal weight should be counselled by visiting health oIIicers Irom the
Health Ministry;

- Letters should be sent to parents, inIorming them oI their child's weight and the steps to be
taken to reduce excess weight;



- Suitable exercises should be introduced Ior obese students and their progress monitored on a
weekly basis;



- Fruits must be served in schools and good eating habits taught and cultivated; and,



- Students must be taught the importance oI outdoor activities and to reduce sedentary activities.

Obesity can be overcome with a healthy diet, healthy liIestyle and regular exercise.

Teachers should make sure obese students are not bullied or insulted as this may result in
depression.

Parents should help build conIidence in their obese children as conIidence and motivation Irom
loved ones will help them realise the importance oI a healthy diet and a healthy liIestyle.

Read more: Obesity: Provide them with tips on nutrition
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/19obesa/Article/#ixzz1ZMljAFzp