DUBAI — Only one in four Emirati mothers is confident that her children are following a balanced diet, according to the Kraft Foods Health Eating and Nutrition GCC Awareness Study. The majority of mothers feel otherwise.
The region-wide study aimed to determine the attitudes and practices of mothers on the nutrition of their children. More than 850 mothers from the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia participated in the month-long study in June, which generally indicated that mothers in the UAE are much more cautious about their children’s diet than most mothers in the region.
Only 25 per cent of Emirati mothers surveyed allow their children to snack daily, unlike 60 per cent of mothers in Saudi Arabia and 50 per cent in Kuwait. With one in two Emirati mothers being concerned about how many calories their children are consuming, it is not surprising that 58 per cent of them exercise calorie-control in the children’s diet.
Nutritionist Dr Stephanie Karl from Dubai London Clinic emphasised the importance of snacking healthily. “Snacks are very important but make them count and be nutrient-dense rather than energy-dense. You can include fast foods and sodas as treats rather than everyday foods,” she said.
In the UAE, cholesterol is the number one concern for 66 per cent of mothers surveyed.
Thirty-three per cent admitted to exercising little or having no control in their children’s cholesterol consumption. Fat content is the second largest issue for 62 per cent of UAE mothers who claimed that they are aware of fat content labels on the food products that they purchase.
Sugar intake in children’s diet is another issue for 57 per cent of UAE mothers, with half of them saying that they control their children’s sugar intake.
However, 30 per cent are only somewhat concerned about sugar intake and 16 per cent are not concerned at all.—
Khaleej Times