Children are growing rapidly and they involve themselves in tremendous amount of physical activities thereby burning off large amounts of energy. These energies need to be supplied both at home and in school hence the importance of the School Meal Programme (SMP). In addition brain growth occurs maximally in the first two years of life, adequate nutrition is needed to ensure optimal physical and mental growth and development of children.
The SMP is an important part of the School Health Programme aimed at supplementing meals given at home to ensure a holistic nutritional care. The World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates and strongly recommends the SMP. The WHO recommends that 50% of the caloric requirements and 30% of the protein requirements should be supplied by the meals given in school.
With these recommendations in mind, the Palace Style Kids food policy seeks to ensure and promote the consumption of healthy and nutritionally adequate food by children under our care. These include:
Carbohydrate- rich food like Yam, Bread, rice, potatoes These are good sources of calorie/energy.
Protein- rich food like Egg, Milk, Beans and beans products like akara, moimoi. These are tissue-building food.
Vitamins-rich foods like fruits- Oranges, Banana, Pineapple, Pawpaw, carrot, water melon These build up the immune system, facilitate metabolism and fight infections.
Water- natural and clean water It aids digestion.
Fats and Oil- butter, cheese Supply calorie and are important part of cell membrane
Fibres- Oat, whole grain Aids elimination.
Minerals and micro-nutrients found abundantly in vegetables and fruits They are immune boosters.
We discourage the consumption of the following:
Sweetened biscuits and chocolates.
Carbonated drinks.
Simple sugar and sweetened drinks.
Sweets and chewing gums etc.
The above (Marked in red) are junk food that predispose children to obesity and its various untoward complications, Diabetes Mellitus, dental caries, aversion for normal nutritious meal and poor or sub-optimal physical, mental and psychological growth and development.
To this effect therefore, we would like to encourage parents that the content of food packaged to be consumed in school by palace style kids should contain at least:
A main meal
Water
Snacks (unsweetened biscuits)
Fruits
Let’s join hands to train our children to eat rightly and thus grow/develop optimally.