Let us watch what students eat, suggest nutritionists

Is everything on a student’s food tray in school healthy?

The Nutritionists-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP) has proposed the designation of nutritionists or dietitians on campuses to check on the meals and beverages served in school canteens and recommend healthy options.

“There should be an organized monitoring of food served in school canteens to make sure the dietary requirements of students are met,” said NDAP president Dr. Adela Jamorabo-Ruiz in a health forum, noting that there were no commissioned food experts in schools to approve canteen menus.

While it may not be a requirement, the Department of Education has issued a directive to all public schools to sell only nutrient-rich food and fortified food products in their canteens to make sure students receive the proper nutrition outside their homes, Ruiz said.

A 2008 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute showed that seven percent of Filipino children aged 5 to 10 were overweight. In 2003, 5.4 percent of children were battling obesity, a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, which include heart illness, stroke and diabetes.

The national data also showed that 29.9 percent of Filipino adults were overweight and obese in 2013.

Obesity, a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, is linked to incessant consumption of unhealthy food and sugary drinks.

For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) has called on local government units to put in place an efficient monitoring system of ambulant vendors outside schools to make sure students are protected from unsafe and contaminated food and drinks.

“Local government units must be able to control these ambulant vendors near schools to ensure food safety among students,” said Rolando Santiago, program officer of the DOH Environmental-Related Diseases Division.

This can be done by establishing a registry of the hawkers and giving them training on proper food handling, said Santiago.

He said local governments could also designate selling areas and food storage facilities for these vendors.