Dietician Dilara Koçak, warned families about healthy nutrition of children and she said: “Children are under threat. It is scary that children may live shorter than their parents”
An important warning to families from Dietician Dilara Koçak: “Children are under threat!” TED Rönesans Koleji (Renaissance College) raises awareness of families about healthy eating. As TED Rönesans Koleji gives importance to physical and mental development of children as well as giving importance to their academic development; the College has added one more activity to the activities performed within the scope of the activities for raising awareness of parents. After starting the “School without Canteen” project, it was held a seminar for parents on “Good life and healthy eating tips” with the participation of Dilara Koçak.
ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CHILDREN IS OBESE
Dilara Koçak gave information about wrong eating habits of children and she stated that; overweight and obesity problems have increased in the recent years in Turkey. The expert dietician emphasized the seriousness of the problem and she said: “one out of every five children in Turkey has either overweight or obesity problem. It is seen that; 30 percent of those who are overweight in childhood suffer from obesity in their adulthood. Vascular age of obese children is higher. The children who watch TV at least 3 hours a day are 45% more likely to be overweight than other children. The children who have meal with their families consume less fat and they have lower probability of being obese.” Dilara Koçak stated that; genetic factors, imbalance between energy intake and spending, lack of physical activity, eating habits and hormonal disorders are among the causes of obesity and warned the parents: “Using food as a mean of reward or punishment can affect to perception of satisfaction. Excellence expectancy of parents may cause the child to become uncontrolled about eating. “
HALF OF CHILDREN SUFFER FROM IRON DEFICIENCY
Kocak stated that; children are facing a very serious threat due to malnutrition. She pointed out; the age of dieting fall to 9 – 11 years of age, puberty age also fell; especially girls may suffer from secret eating disorder. She also highlighted the iron deficiency and she said: “half of school-age children suffer from iron deficiency. The symptoms of iron deficiency in children are fatigue, sleepiness and inability to concentrate. Parents should pay attention to these symptoms. Children should consume red meat, molasses, raisins, dried apricots and foods containing vitamin C against iron deficiency”
WARNING ABOUT GAS DRINK AND MILK
Koçak said that; it is not recommended children to consume more than 45 milligrams of caffeine per day and she indicated that; this amount corresponds to 43 grams of chocolate or 355 milligrams of gas drink. Koçak also said: “Consuming more than 3 cups of milk a day may cause obesity”. Dilara Kocak underlined that; children who have breakfast live healthier and they achieve a more successful academic performance in school. Expert Dietician Koçak recommended the followings for a better quality of life: “Do not focus on the amount of calories you take. Increase your daily activities. Give importance to balance and diversity in our diet. Remember that; there is not any miraculous or guilty food alone. “
THE SCHOOL WITHOUT CANTEEN PROJECT; THE FIRST STEP OF FIGHT AGAINST OBESITY TED
Rönesans Koleji started to implement the “School without Canteen” project which makes fight against obesity a part of school life considering that children spend a large part of the day in the school. Therefore, there is not any canteen in the school. It is offered special menus to children under the healthy nutrition program rather than processed foods. These menus are prepared by the “Nutrition Committee” which is consisted of food engineers, doctors and nutritionists within the scope of healthy nutrition program. The menus are prepared according to daily calories and food groups that a teenager or a child should receive. College prefers a mainly protein and calcium containing nutrition model which accelerates children’s physical development and it is given three meals a day including breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks.