Too much snacking bad for children: Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Parents beware. The jajanan, or snacks, which
\nyour children buy and eat from vendors at schools can stunt their
\nphysical and mental growth and may affect their performance at
\nschool, according to a dietitian.<\/p>\n
Soemiati Sardjono said the majority of these snacks have very
\nlow nutritional value and consist chiefly of flour and fat with
\nlittle protein or mineral content, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Such an empty calorie intake causes children to feel full yet
\nthey become sleepy and tend to lose enthusiasm for studying, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Many school administrators, responding to the tendency among
\ntheir pupils to lose concentration in the afternoon, put
\nmathematics in the early hours and other subjects like history in
\nthe afternoon, Soemiati noted.<\/p>\n
This approach does not help as it further strengthens the
\nstereotype of social studies as being less important than natural
\nand exact sciences, she said.<\/p>\n
In the more elite schools, the variety of snacks available is
\ndifferent but the impact on studying is probably just as bad, if
\nnot worse, Soemiati said.<\/p>\n
\"Hamburgers, ice cream, beef noodle soup, hot dogs and fried
\nchicken could lead children to develop heart disorders, high
\ncholesterol, high blood pressure or to become overweight at an
\nearly age,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the growth of children in well-off families is
\nalso affected by the fact that most of them are driven to and
\nfrom school and as such they rarely exercise their muscles.<\/p>\n
So what's the solution? Certainly not closing down food
\nstalls, Soemiati said.<\/p>\n
Soemiati suggested that school administrators make an
\narrangement with food vendors that they sell more nutritious
\nfoods at prices affordable by the children.<\/p>\n
Other experts says that the habit of snacking during school
\nbreaks has a certain social function and that the best solution
\nis to turn the presence of food vendors into part of the
\neducation system, in this case education about nutrition. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/too-much-snacking-bad-for-children-expert-1447893297",
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