Schools and parents have ramped up efforts to provide pupils healthier meals to boost their immunity and establish good eating habits as the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Doctors in the UAE said some children had gained excessive weight over the past few months due to proximity to high calorie foods and a lack of exercise as they studied from home.
With children back in the classroom this month, doctors urged schools and parents to ensure healthier eating habits are embraced to stop this pattern.
Most school canteens are closed due to Covid-19 precautions so pupils are bringing their own lunch or being served pre-packaged meals.
Good eating habits will boost immunity as the world navigates a path through the pandemic, doctors said.
"The importance of a balanced diet and regular exercise cannot be overemphasised," said Noobi Koyaa, a specialist paediatrician at Canadian Specialist Hospital Dubai.
She suggested parents and schools give pupils balanced meals including fresh fruits and vegetables, starchy foods like pitta bread, fruit bread or crackers, dairy products like cheese sticks, yoghurt or milk and plenty of water.
In the past two months, most of the children have ended up with excessive weight gain as they have been at home mostly with easy access to high calorie foods
“In the past two months, most of the children have ended up with excessive weight gain as they have been at home mostly with easy access to high calorie foods,” said Dr Koyaa.
“This, along with practically no physical activity has led to the unfavourable weight gain.”
Dr Koyaa said schools have a responsibility to encourage pupils to follow healthy eating habits, as their nourishment reflects on their general behaviour and scholastic performance.
She said parents also play an important role and should speak to their children about the types of healthy foods they want packed in their lunch box.
Farhana Asim, a mother of two children in secondary school, said the pandemic brought to the foreground how important healthy eating is.
“I’m trying to pack as many vegetables and healthy snacks as I can in my children’s lunch box,” she said.
“I’m substituting chocolate or cookies for fruits or other low-sugar and healthier snacks. Instead of letting them buy food from the school canteen, as they’ve always done, I’m packing their lunch this year as we just feel safer that way.”
Alicia Hol, a mother of three, is sending her children to school with a packed lunch too.
“A healthy lunch box should be part of everyone’s lives, whether there’s Covid-19 or not,” she said.
“I’ve always tried to keep healthy lunch boxes and if your children are healthy, fit and well and have strong immunity – these are the best tool and weapon you can give them to tackle obesity.”
Last month, a study of 75 research papers and nearly 400,000 patients found that obese people, who contracted Covid-19, were 48 per cent more likely to die and had a 74 per cent increased risk of being admitted to intensive care.
The analysis, by a team at University of North Carolina, found those with obesity were 113 per cent more likely to require hospital care.
The links can partly be attributed to the various underlying health problems and risk factors that obese people have such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney and liver disease.
But obesity impairs the immune system response and anti-inflammatory cells needed to fight Covid-19, a repercussion also seen in influenza, hepatitis and other infectious diseases.
Yasmin Haddad, paediatric and adult dietitian at myPediaClinic Dubai, said underweight, overweight and obese people were generally at greater risk of contracting an illness.
"Seventy per cent of your immunity comes from your gut and if your gut health is not well, then your immunity is lowered," she said.
"So, nutritional food plays a huge role in building immunity. You could be overweight, underweight or even be at a healthy range of height and weight – but if your body lacks proper nutrition, it can affect your immunity and increase risk of infection."
Schools are doing their part by offering a healthier menu to children this academic year.
At Dunecrest American School, cold sandwiches are offered for lunch.
Last academic year, a healthy hot buffet style lunch, as well as cold sandwiches and snacks including fruit cups, vegetable sticks and granola bars were available. The hot buffet included savoury menus planned around themed days such as ‘Pizza Thursday’ and ‘Meatless Monday’.
“In light of the global health crisis, all meals and snacks this year are now individually packaged,” said Bill Delbrugge, principal of the school.
“Our caterer has worked incredibly hard to deliver packaged hot food solutions. Last year, approximately 40 per cent of our students opted for eating in our canteen with the majority choosing a hot buffet menu. So far we still have approximately 40 per cent of students opting for the canteen but the preference has now shifted to healthy sandwiches.”
Most pupils at Jumeirah baccalaureate school are bringing lunch in from home.
The school continues to work with Slices – a school catering company that offers healthy options – to serve pre-packed food while the canteen and hot food ban is in place.
“We are closely monitoring food breaks with regard to the safety and well-being of all the students and staff,” said Richard Drew, principal of the school.
“This will continue and we will work with families providing information and advice on this. Our biggest challenge is to encourage students to bring sufficient supplies of water to school as we currently are not allowed to provide hydration for our students from the many water stations located around the school.”
The canteen at Dubai British School in Jumeirah Park will begin serving packed meals to pupils in classroom this week, though the majority are bringing food in from home.
“Although we have less control over what students bring to school in their packed lunches, healthy eating is a part of our curriculum and is reinforced through lunchtimes and through ongoing communication and advice to parents,” said Brendon Fulton, executive principal at the school.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Ki-Jana Hoever
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Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
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Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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