NOT enough time is not an excuse to neglect your child’s nutrition, said a nutrition expert to parents who complained that they couldn’t provide their kids with wholesome meals.

Parents who worked fulltime must have the discipline to prepare nutritious food for their kids instead of relying on kindergartens or baby sitters, said Nutrition Society of Malaysia chairman Dr Tee E. Siong.

The sacrifice was necessary since malnutrition results in stunted growth and  development. 

Dr Tee said there are already enough meal options for busy families, which take between five to 15 minutes prepare.

“The excuses of not having enough time and being too busy at work are unacceptable. There are many short menus out there. What’s important is that we know what goes into their meals.”

His comments come on the back of a National Health and Morbidity 2016 study which found that 28% of kids between 23 months to 12 years old in Putrajaya are stunted because of chronic malnutrition.

At the national level, the study found that 20.7% of all children below 5 had their growth stunted due to malnutrition.

A The Malaysian Insight survey of 10 families in Putrajaya found that six of them did not provide packed meals and relied on daycare centres to feed their kids properly. 

Tee gave a few examples of what time-strapped parents could prepare for their school-going kids. 

“The easiest to prepare are egg, tuna or sardine sandwiches or steamed red bean pau. Just don’t use fatty meats. For lunch, you can still prepare fried rice or noodles, but put in vegetables. 

“Sandwiches are the easiest because you can prepare them the night before and store them in the fridge.” 

Dr Tee said parents must also take note of what their kids are fed in daycare centres, preschools and schools.

“If they are fed chicken today, tomorrow, it must be fish and vegetables. And there must be fruits. These are very important for kids. Different types of foods have different nutrients.

“Which is why the best is to bring food from home so that kids under 3 get the proper nutrients.” 

One way to entice kids to eat their veggies, said Tee, was to experiment with creative arrangements and garnishings.

This is a strategy that mother of three, Nor Khaliza Wati Mohad Kholil, has used to great effect.

“I wake up early to make pack lunches. My kids are picky about food. One of them does not like veggies but if I garnish adish with greens he will eat them,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

“I always ensure that their meals are nutritious,” she said, adding that most of the time a dish took only 10 minutes to complete. 

 “Sandwiches are the easiest, nasi lemak would take longer. Whatever it is, you just have to wake up early.”  – December 25, 2017.