Are lunch boxes filled with processed foods and packet of crisps giving your child an upset tummy? Do they spend more time at the clinic than at the park?

Helping Dubai parents take the stress out of packing a healthy school lunch box Michelin-starred chef Gary Rhodes has designed a healthy and holistic experience to lunchtime.

"We need to serve children wholesome food with fresh ingredients ... also introduce them to experience a wide variety of new tastes but learn etiquette manners and practice the art of conversation at the dining table" said Rhodes.

The British chef spoke to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the official opening ceremony of the Dubai British School- Jumeirah Park (DBSJP) on Sunday November 15.

A strict advocate against the use of technology at the dining table Rhodes said that children must be trained not to use iPads and mobile phones while having a meal. He said this habit is currently lacking among children and adults across the world and must be reintroduced. "Children need to be reintroduced to healthy food and while they are eating they must be able to hold a conversation with people without looking at their devices" said Rhodes.

Working parents have it tough. From having to prepare themselves for the long workday parents also have to cook breakfast and lunch and pack a nutritious healthy lunch box for their kids.

Ideally every parent would want their child to have the best and healthiest foods. However sometimes due to time constraints parents skimp on serving children nutritious healthy food and instead pack their lunch boxes with a packet of crisps cookies and treats loaded with sugar and carbohydrates.

A recent study in the United States Medical Journal of Pediatrics examined the condition of 700 lunch boxes an hour and a half before lunchtime.

"Researchers who examined the lunch boxes found that the vast majority of their contents had become so warm that they posed a potential health hazard." Research said that 97 per cent of meats 99 per cent of dairy and 99 per cent of vegetables were stored at unsafe temperatures.

Although nearly half of the lunches included an ice pack and 12 per cent were in fridges of the 1361 perishable foods tested only 22 were still at temperatures considered safe. They were shocked to find that 97 per cent of meats 99 per cent of dairy and 99 per cent of vegetables were stored at unsafe temperatures.

"When you consider the extreme temperatures that we experience in the UAE I encourage parents to consider carefully what they pack into their child's lunchbox" said Clive Pierrepont Director of Communications Taaleem Group of Schools. A very vocal advocate against unhealthy food in the lunch box Pierrepont stated that children can be taught to change the practice of eating unhealthy food and told to follow simple table manners.

"We need to educate parents that even though they may take extreme care with packing a nutritious and healthy lunchbox an hour after leaving home it can be dangerous and is often the culprit for all manner of upset tummies and even worse" said Pierrepont.

The Dubai British School Jumeirah Park enlisted the help of Rhodes to design a lunch box that is packed in nutritional value and is fun to eat.

Rhodes has worked with several schools in the UK and the UAE and said the response from parents towards this initiative has been phenomenal.

At the DBSJP the children are served a different menu five days a week. "For example the meal typically consists of a snack and beverage like Banana bread and banana chips and full cream milk or Hummus with vegetable soldier and Ceres apple juice/no sugar. After which they are given soup (Cauliflower and potato) and a main meal like roast beef and gravy and aubergine steak with tomatoes" said Rhodes.

Though the cuisine is predominantly British children are also given the option to choose and change their choice of foods. As sides the children are also served Yorkshire pudding roast potatoes and carrots cabbage. For dessert the child is given apple crumble custard chocolate mousse and strawberry mousse for example.

Rhodes however insisted that all ingredients used in preparing the food will be healthy and will not consist of any additives.

School opening

Ros Marshall CEO of Taaleem Group of Schools to which DBSJP belongs said: "So far the school has received 350 registered applications. We are very excited from the response received from parents because the school has such excellent facilities."

She added: "The school pays special attention to children with learning needs and disabilities. The school is fully integrated to accept children with all kinds of learning disabilities like speech visual learning and hearing."

With a maximum capacity of 25 students per classroom the school's primary focus as of now is to accept more children into the campus.

Speaking about the growth of British curriculum schools in the UAE Mac Jessel Country Director of the British Council said that the growth for British curriculum schools have been wonderful. "As many as 110 new schools are slated to open in the UAE by 2020. Of this some will be British curriculum" said Jessel.

Dhanusha Gokulan The resident transport and traffic expert with a touch of music culture and youth. I report on everything from rent hikes to traffic jams from 'most expensive' experiences to tallest buildings from encouraging upcoming talents to camels laughing. I've been a journalist for seven years and I am ridiculously passionate about music books internet memes Facebook procrastination and the occasional sport activity (candycrush).