The Government has been asked to create guidelines to help in identification and consumption of healthy foods by ECDE learners.
Led by Annie Mwangi, a group of parents from Manyatta Sub-county in Embu County argued that ECDE learners should be taught about unhealthy foods through limitation on their access and consumption.
Mwangi, a member of Gatondo Primary School feeding programme, claimed that educating learners to identify unhealthy food is one way of encouraging the community to embrace healthy eating habits.
“The rising cases of obesity and the growing recognition that nutrition is critical to the healthy development of learners has helped to raise awareness on the need to improve school feeding programmes and educate the public on the importance of healthy eating,” she stated.
She noted that Gatondo Primary School has successfully launched a feeding programme for more than 200 ECDE learners, and that parents have started embracing locally grown healthy foods and familiarising children with the foods they should eat and those they should reject or consume with moderation.
Research done in both Kenya and the US has revealed that nutrition indirectly impacts school performance since poor nutrition leaves students susceptible to illness and results absenteeism.
The parents suggested that lessons from the US Department of Agriculture, which released new school meal guidelines intended to improve nutrition and reduce obesity, should be introduced in Kenya.
The guidelines call for increased servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and that schools should offer meat or meat alternative, reduce sodium, limit saturated fat, and introduce standards for caloric intake for various age ranges.
The parents suggested that there should be a government arranged and approved menu to oversee school feeding programmes.
They also urged the county governments, in partnerships with devolved health services, to offer guidance and resources to schools as they implement policies and create healthier learning environments.
-By Robert Nyagah
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