Getting ready for back to school in the UAE

As your adorable little ones prepare for back to school, inspire them with themed school kits and pack along a new regime for healthy eating

Several research hours and labour have been poured into finding what makes some, or should we say most children, picky eaters. Their affinity to live on a diet of sugar and starch is kind of irksome to most parents.
Some studies even go on to suggest that children may be "prewired" to select the most energy-rich foods available. But certainly the onus is on parents and the caretakers to ensure that children have well-rounded meals and develop taste and appetite for healthy food.
"Ounce for ounce, kids need more food than we (adults) do. Not only do kids need more food to grow, they need more food because they are less energy efficient. It's because of their size. Smaller bodies tend to have more surface area relative to volume, so they lose more body heat. Smaller creatures also tend to have smaller, shorter digestive tracts, making it more difficult to digest food that is high in fibre and/or toxins. So natural selection has put the squeeze on little guys: They need to focus on foods that deliver a lot of energy with little bulk," says Gwen Dewar, a Behavioural Ecologist, in her paper titled The Science of Picky Eaters.
However, there's evidence suggesting that offering food in an exciting manner can alter this behaviour. Food packed in a fancy looking box, and presented in a playful manner makes it more appealing to children and has a positive effect on food acceptance.
The marketplace is brimming with choices.
Babyshop, for instance, offers a wide range of choices in lunch bags, lunch boxes, water bottles, and school kits in exciting colours, shapes, patterns and designs. Several other companies too offer similar products and further allow you to customise the products to match it with the preferences of your child. So if your child's role model is batman, or superman, you can buy a school kit including lunch box and water bottle in that theme and can also get your child's name printed on it to make it look more special.
But while you look for such products, do pay heed to the quality. Lunch bags should have insulated padded interiors or double insulation allows food to stay fresh for long. So your little one's chicken sandwich and veggies with dip will stay nice and fresh till lunchtime. Bags should have water resistant PEVA lining to allow easy cleaning and maintain hygiene should something spill inside it.
Plastic products on the other hand, such as bottles and lunch boxes, should be BPA-free to ensure the health and safety of children.
Vibrant colours and designs are sure to please even the fussiest eaters and nudge them to have meals that you pack. As your adorable little ones start preparing for back to school, get them a new set of school kit and pack along a new regime for healthy eating.
-suneeti@khaleejtimes.com