In a proactive move towards improving student health, schools and colleges across Dubai are now encouraged to serve healthier meals. This initiative comes as part of enhanced food and nutrition guidelines introduced by Dubai Municipality (DM). The framework aims to foster healthier eating habits among students, focusing on reducing added sugars, increasing dietary fiber, promoting water intake, and minimizing food waste.
The guidelines are comprehensive and set out specific criteria regarding per-serving sizes, which ensure that portion control and consistent labeling are maintained across all educational institutions. Additionally, the consumption of tea and coffee will be regulated, prompting institutes to create sustainable meal plans that emphasize locally sourced ingredients. This significant announcement was made during the third edition of the Dubai Food Safety Forum.
To further bolster food safety awareness, Dubai Municipality is planning to employ engaging educational methods, such as games and interactive platforms, aimed at educating students. The newly launched e-learning platform, My School Food, is designed to make learning about food safety enjoyable and informative.
According to Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafie, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, the educational materials will incorporate fun elements. “Our material is based on games, and we teach them what food safety is,” he shared. This approach helps young learners grasp concepts related to food storage, safe temperatures, and handling practices that they can easily implement in their daily lives. These students, as future change-makers, play an essential role in promoting safe food practices.
Nutrition in Charge
The Dubai Municipality has also rolled out the “Nutrition in Charge” (NIC) program for educational institutions. This program designates a specific individual at each school to take charge of promoting and implementing healthier nutrition practices within the school environment. This person is responsible for ensuring compliance with nutritional standards, promoting healthy eating habits, monitoring food quality, addressing any nutrition-related concerns, and providing training for canteen staff.
Jumana Shamsudheen, a Health and Food Safety Specialist at the School of Research Science and designated NIC for her institution, emphasizes the importance of this role. “We design our menus to meet the nutritional and calorie requirements and submit our menus to Dubai Municipality for approval,” she explained. However, she acknowledges the challenge of encouraging children to swap sugary and junk food for healthier options. As a compromise, her school allows one indulgent food day each week, a strategy that has proven effective in keeping students engaged and happy with their meals.
Self-Auditing in Schools
In addition to the NIC program, schools throughout the emirate will have access to a self-auditing tool developed by Dubai Municipality. This tool is designed to help educational institutions evaluate the nutritional quality of their food offerings effectively. A smart dashboard will facilitate compliance tracking, audit schedules, and overall school nutrition statuses.
The self-auditing tool includes a dynamic Dubai map displaying real-time nutrition compliance amongst schools, alongside a built-in checklist for guidance on nutritional standards. This resource also offers downloadable reports and documentation to support audits and menu feedback.
As highlighted by Michael Leri Rivera Malonzo, a Senior Applied Nutrition and Food Safety Awareness Officer at DM, the overarching aim is to connect with over 400,000 students in more than 500 schools throughout Dubai. This initiative is not merely about compliance; it is a comprehensive approach towards instilling a culture of healthy eating among the youth in the UAE.
