Many children buy shingara, samosa, fuchka, noodles or fried chicken from carts and shops at the school gate when classes end. Nazneen S Mousumi, senior dietitian and head of nutrition and diabetes at Pro-Active Medical College and Hospital in Narayanganj, says the habit can harm the health of children and parents alike.
Hunger after five or six hours at school is natural; many children do not finish their tiffin, and some skip breakfast. Whatever is close at hand then looks appealing. In her view, the lack of a healthy option at that moment is a big part of the problem.
Deep-fried food is high in calories, and oil reheated again and again can form harmful compounds. Instant noodles, chips, some sauces and soft drinks carry a lot of salt or sugar; too much salt is linked to high blood pressure and too much sugar to tooth decay and weight gain. Filling up on fried food also crowds out fruit, vegetables, lentils, milk and eggs.
Food made in the open or stored unsafely can be contaminated by dust, flies, dirty water and unwashed hands, bringing a risk of diarrhoea and other foodborne illness. Children learn from adults, she says, so rather than simply forbidding, parents should explain and change the whole family's eating habits.
She suggests packing a banana, guava, apple or other seasonal fruit; a boiled egg, roasted chickpeas or a few nuts; a small homemade sandwich or roll with egg, vegetables or chicken; puffed rice with chickpeas and nuts; or flattened rice with yoghurt and banana.
Perishables such as eggs, yoghurt and chicken should not sit at room temperature for long, and a water bottle should go along, with plain water preferred to soft drinks.
Source: Prothom Alo
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