Some school proprietors and parents in Karu and Mararaba areas of Nasarawa have decried the importance of healthy meals in child development.
Mrs Blessing Bernard, Proprietor, Emerging Potential Montessori Academy, Karu, Nasarawa, told NAN on Friday that parents and caregivers should feed pupils with nutritious meals for effective mental development.
Bernard said that healthy food was crucial to the overall development of the child, “ to do this effectively, we need the services of dietitians”.
The school proprietor also said that feeding a child with nutritious and balanced balance diets would boost their performance in academic work.
“When a child takes adequate and balanced diet, it will enhance good health, help the child to grow well and keep the child away from sickness.
“It will also enable the child to be productive and excel in his or her academic pursuit.
“Making a healthy choice of diet as parents through the advice of diet experts is important while choosing what to prepare for children.
“As parents, we should encourage healthy eating and active lifestyle among children by giving them variety of healthy foods,’’ she said.
In another interview, Mr Ochie Owoicho, Proprietor, Great Group of Schools, Mararaba, observed that taking a healthy diet with the advice of dietitians would stimulate children’s alertness during classes.
“Children can improve their academic performance by including healthy snacks in their daily routine.
“Eating a healthy diet and being physically active can balance children’s energy levels for optimal attentiveness and improved academic performance,’’ he said.
Owoicho urged parents to feed their children with foods rich in vegetables, water and iron.
Also speaking to NAN, Mrs Victoria Simeon, a parent, agreed that taking healthy food would make a child to grow properly and fight diseases.
According to her, giving a child good food and involving them in mild exercises makes the child strong, healthy and productive.
Another parent, Mr Gabriel Ameh, said that school-age children should eat food from all five healthy food groups such as vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein.
She urged parents not to prepare their children’s meal plans without adequate consultation, to enable informed planning.
