Brunei Students Face Junk Food Menace

Bandar Seri Begawan - A healthy diet is very important for children. They should take nutritious food from the early stage to help their growth and development.

A school Health Medical Officer, Dayang Hajah Masni said junk food such as snacks contains empty calories which means it only contain calories without nutrition such as vitamin and protein.

Also Ministry of Health has stated that it has issued a guideline booklet for canteen operators to ensure that the food and drinks sold are in line with objectives of the ministry.

Some students do not take breakfast at home, it was stated. Instead they take it at school break time. This practice is not good for them.

Students should make a habit of having breakfast at home before they go to school even if they only have cornflakes or sandwich because they need food, which are rich in vitamins and energy to keep them healthy.

School canteens play a vital role in helping students maintaining a healthy diet, the ministry spokesman said. The canteen should prepare food, which contains enough protein and vitamins.

Canteen operators should be wise in preparing various types of food for the children by taking into account its cleanliness, nourishment, safety and halalness.

This is to avoid diseases and death from illness such as obesity, food poison, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and diabetes, which are common among the community including children.

Officers from the food services and hostels of the Ministry of Education to school canteen operators in the country have stressed these matters at a briefing recently.

There are guideline on various food and drink, which should be sold at school canteens.

Drinks, which are not permitted, include carbonated cordial drink, syrup and mixed drinks in plastic, bottle, glass, box and coffee or tea.

Non-halal food and dubious food are not to be served.

Canteen operators are advised to sell food and drink rich in proteins such as sandwich, burger, salad and also rojak while permitted drinks are Soya bean, yogurt and coconut juice. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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