Revised Tuck Shop Guidelines: |01 June 2018

 How can we all better adapt, or can we really put a cost to our children’s health?

The Ministry of Health has officially launched revised ‘Tuck Shop Guidelines’ for schools, containing information about foods which can and cannot be consumed on school grounds, based on their nutritional values.

The second school term is different compared to previous ones as certain foods that were allowed and lavishly consumed, are now restricted on school premises.

It was in a ceremony at the Mont Fleuri primary school on May 16, 2018 that the revised tuck shop guidelines were officially handed over to the Ministry of Education.

The handing over is part of the ‘Ed li manz byen’ (Help them to eat healthily) campaign introduced by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to promote and sensitize the general public about the Traffic Light Classification System.

The Traffic Light System is a new approach that forms part of the revised guidelines and makes use of colour coding -- red, amber and green -- to classify food and drinks according to their nutritional value.

This initiative comes following the marked increase of obesity in children in Seychelles, among other reasons, and aims to help promote healthier eating habits among students.

In an attempt to further help parents, teachers, children and the community better adapt to these new changes, the Nutrition Unit at the Ministry of Health recaps on the main changes to the guidelines, and shares some adaption strategies for a better, more manageable diet and lifestyle.

Traffic Light Classification System: A recap

Foods and drinks from the GREEN category

Green means ‘go’ and groups foods and drinks with high nutritional value that are important in supporting growth and development of children.

Foods and drinks from the AMBER category

Amber means ‘proceed with caution’ as although food and drinks in this category are nutritious, they contain higher amounts of fat, sugar and salt, hence need to be eaten in moderation.

Foods and drinks from the RED category

Red means ‘stop’ - foods and drinks in this group should not be eaten and are strictly NOT ALLOWED TO BE SOLD OR TO BE FOUND on school premises since they are of low nutritional value (offer limited portions of essential nutrients for growth and development), and are either high in saturated fats or added sugar and salt.

Overconsumption of these foods leads to weight gain, dental caries and chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. It has further been proved that such a diet contributes to a reduction in academic performance.

Healthy eating in conjunction with physical activity may help children:

-           Grow

-           Learn

-           Build strong bones & muscles

-           Maintain a healthy weight

-           Reduce future chances of developing diabetes & heart disease

-           Feel good about themselves

You can help your child eat better by:

-           Using less fat, salt and sugar when cooking or preparing food 

-           Baking or roasting instead of frying

-           Avoiding oversized portions

-           Reshaping the plate: Make half of what is on your child’s plate fruits and vegetables, as below:

Help your child form healthy eating habits by:

-           Eating healthily yourself, setting a good example and being a good role model

-           Talking about healthy eating with your child, explaining how food can be good or bad for them

-           Teaching your child to eat slowly and to really enjoy the taste/flavours of food. It takes about 20 minutes for our brains to register that we have had enough food, so it is important to take enough time to eat. Eating mindfully also means eating without distractions such as without electronic devices and in a relaxed environment

-           Promoting healthy eating with people who are also around your child, e.g. daycare workers; supporting the school’s healthy food options / physical education activities

-           Considering outside influences, e.g. teaching your child to be aware of pressure from TV ads that persuade children to eat unhealthy foods and drinks

-           Involving your children in planning and preparing meals; they may be more willing to eat dishes that they help prepare.

To better manage healthier eating for the whole family:

-           Prepare healthy meals and snacks ahead of time. Prepare food on a day when you’re less busy, and refrigerate or freeze them for another day. Cook large batches of soup, stew or casseroles and freeze them as a time saver.

-           Prepare more servings and plan for leftovers, e.g. cook 4 chicken breasts instead of 2 so you have enough for another meal.

-           Prepare meals and snacks that are not too difficult:

Healthy snacks can be in the form of:

• Fresh fruit, e.g. papaya, served plain or with low-fat yogurt
• Homemade fruit smoothies made with milk or yoghurt and fresh fruit, e.g. banana
• Dry cereals (with no added sugars) served plain or with milk

Healthy meals can be in the form of:

• Tuna sandwich with chopped lettuce and cucumber on wholegrain bread
• Wholegrain pasta with shredded chicken breast, avocado and chopped tomatoes
• Leftover grilled fish, boiled cassava and mango chutney

Ensuring that your child gets healthier food options does take some proper prioritizing of which foods are brought into your home, or the money being given to your child. However, at the end of the day, we need to ask ourselves if we can really put a cost to our children’s health.

References:                    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

                                                Children’s Education Funds Inc