(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A new initiative has been launched at Qatar Foundation's (QF) schools to encourage healthy eating among students.
Children at QF's schools are being served the healthiest meals possible during their lunch breaks under Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar's (WCMC-Q) Sahtak Awalan - Your Health First campaign.
The aim is to create healthy eating habits at a young age, potentially improving the health of an entire generation and preventing obesity, diabetes and heart diseases.
Adopting Sahtak Awalan branding and health messages, children are being encouraged to take responsibility for the food they eat and are learning about benefits of certain food.
The schools' canteens project was officially launched on September 7 at the start of the new school year. Along with new lunches, there are facts about nutrition and interactive displays in each canteen, reinforcing the healthy eating message.
There is also information showing students in senior schools how they can calculate their BMI to motivate them to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and information that emphasises health benefits of certain foods.
Healthy recipe cards are available for students to cook with their parents and a Top Trumps game based on healthy foods has been designed for children to play among themselves.
The healthy, nutritional, multi-course menu has been devised by AMLAK Services and is cooked in its state-of-the-art kitchens. AMLAK Services is a subsidiary of AMLAK Holding, a member of QF. Buthaina Al Nuaimi, Executive Director, Pre-University Education, QF, said, "Instilling benefits of healthy eating among Qatar's youth and building a health conscious society is paramount to QF's Community Development pillar. The ongoing five-year campaign aims to educate the community on healthy living.
"Through this knowledge sharing, QF and its partners will not only help ensure the well-being of future generations, but also the long-term sustainability of the nation."
Dr. Javaid Sheikh, Dean, WCMC-Q, said an initiative like this could have a huge impact on children's health.
"Our doctors understand health issues Qatar faces and know that these can, for the most part, be dealt with effectively with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
"If we can encourage children and young people to change habits, we can create a healthy generation able to contribute to the goal of moving towards a knowledge-based economy.
"We believe that habits and lessons learned at a young age are set in stone and stay with the child for the rest of their lives."
To encourage children to eat healthily, Sahtak Awalan has devised a reward system with children receiving stamps in a book whenever they choose a healthy option. Once they have collected enough stamps they receive a badge.
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