Abu Dhabi Promotes Healthy Eating in Schools
Healthy Eating in Schools: Abu Dhabi's New Regulation
The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in Abu Dhabi has introduced new school catering regulations starting from the 2024/25 academic year, aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among students and school staff. The measures focus on improving the quality of food offered in school cafeterias, maintaining student health, and increasing nutritional awareness.
New Rules and Regulations in School Catering
According to the new regulations, schools are required to offer only healthy, nutrient-rich foods to students and staff. The foods must comply with governmental food safety standards, which are regularly checked, and schools must have the appropriate permits. Schools are also obligated to continually monitor the quality and safety of the food and maintain the necessary documentation.
The following rules apply to school canteens and kiosks:
1. External food delivery is prohibited: Services like Talabat and Deliveroo are not allowed to deliver during school hours, ensuring the control of food nutritional value and safety.
2. Ban on unhealthy foods: Products such as alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, pork-containing foods, and allergenic products cannot be sold.
3. Student meal supervision: Schools must ensure that every student receives a proper meal unless fasting for religious reasons. Supervision during mealtime aims to identify and prevent unhealthy eating habits.
The Role of Parents in Developing Healthy Eating Habits
Schools place significant emphasis on involving parents in developing healthy eating habits. Institutions share guides with parents on healthy and balanced diets, highlighting the importance of avoiding unhealthy foods like fried dishes. Such foods can lead to long-term health issues like obesity, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
Parents must also assist schools by promptly informing them of any new allergies developed by their children and ensuring the necessary medications are provided.
Involving Students in Improving Catering
Under the new regulations, schools are required to involve students in the development of catering services. This can be done through feedback forms where students can share their opinions on the food, suggest improvements to the menu, and participate in developing sustainable dining options.
Special Considerations and Allergen Management
Schools must consider students' religious, cultural, and ethical needs during catering and ensure an allergen-free environment. To achieve this, institutions implement the following measures:
a. Maintaining records of allergy information and ensuring easy access in canteens.
b. Clearly labeling food allergen information.
c. Training staff on managing allergies and handling potential emergencies.
d. Ensuring proper storage and easy access to necessary medications.
Food Safety and Staff Training
School staff, including teachers and cafeteria workers, are required to attend training organized by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC). These courses help promote healthy eating and support students in making healthy decisions.
Summary
The goal of the new regulations is to comprehensively improve students' eating habits in Abu Dhabi. Schools, parents, and students collectively share the responsibility to ensure that the food available in institutions contributes to a healthy lifestyle and the well-being of students.
