Al -Bernani tops the students ’choices .. and the demand for“ Al -Balat ”and“ Al -Jabab ”in school canteens

The canteens in public and private schools, since the beginning of the school year, have witnessed a qualitative shift that came out of the accurate follow -up of educational leaders and their field visits, which revealed the absence of diversity in food lists, and their limited varieties that do not meet the needs of students completely.

The leaders recommended the introduction of a greater diversity in meals, based on the proposals of the teachers and the observations of the school community, so that their recommendations later turn into a tangible reality, as the canteens of public and private schools witness an increasing demand from students on new meals.

The options were distributed between fresh offices, light sandwiches, and grilled foods, as well as traditional varieties such as pastries and hot meals, which helped meet various tastes and promote proper nutritional behavior.

School departments confirmed that the canteens lists were designed to take into account the standards of food balance, as they include various salads and fresh fruits, as well as spied dishes in healthy ways (such as grilled chicken and boiled potatoes), as well as natural juices and dairy products, stressing that the prices are appropriate, as it ranged between three and nine dirhams, which contributed to encouraging students to go towards them.

She added that Al -Braiani’s dish is witnessing a wide turnout among students, as its quantities end in the first minutes of the space, in return, the dishes of Al -Balal and Al -Tabab emerged as a preferred option for a large segment of students of the first stages, because they are light and suitable for their ages, and reflect their association with the beloved national dishes.

She pointed out that the heavy demand for these popular dishes, on top of which is the biryani prepared in a healthy way that takes into account the controls and requirements in force in school canteens, reflects students’ association with their favorite traditional meals, despite the availability of many health alternatives, which makes the management of canteens seek to achieve a balance between traditional foods and a healthy cucumber, to ensure that students get fresh food and nutrients each each day.

Food inheritance

“School canteens are witnessing a wide variety in their daily lists, as it includes fresh salads, fruits, sandwiches, grilled dishes, pastries and hot meals, which meet various tastes, enhance proper food behavior among students, and despite the diversity of food available in the canteen, traditional foods are witnessing a great demand.”

She explained that «most students prefer the dishes of playbacks and Balal, because of the popular and light heritage flavor that suit their ages, while the Beriani remains the most demanding, especially among males, as its quantities are rapidly running out during the space, in a daily scene that reflects the students’ association with Emirati food inheritance, the atmosphere of familiarity and sharing inside the school.

Social dimension

In turn, the principal of the school, Aisha Al -Zyoudi, confirmed that the introduction of national food, such as Balali and the Moses, in the daily lists, gave students a feeling of warmth and connection to the house, as many of them have eating familiar meals similar to their domestic breakfast, which strengthened their confidence in the bombing, and the experience earned a social and cultural dimension The authentic food, create a state of affiliation and psychological comfort within the school.

She indicated that students’ complaints of canteens are almost disappeared, after they were previously repeated, due to the limited options or the lack of acceptance of some items.

She stated that “the bombing recorded a remarkable increase in the daily demand for purchase, because the prices are accessible to all, as it ranged between three and nine dirhams, which made the canteens more attractive and meet their needs.”

Al -Zyoudi emphasized that the school is keen to raise periodic questionnaires at the end of each semester, for parents, with the aim of assessing the lists of food and quality of service, considering that “these questionnaires are an essential tool for measuring students’ satisfaction, and involving them in formulating the experience of the canteen, because the observations and opinions are constantly a base for the development of the service, so that the canteens turn into a platform for food education, not just a place to eat. ”

She added that “these practices made the experience of school canteens closer to the expectations of students and their families, and contributed to enhancing the school community’s confidence in nutrition services.”

The student affairs official at a government school, who preferred not to be named, said that “the first stage students accept more on the dishes of the playbacks, the Balal and the authorities, compared to other items, as they are light and suitable for their ages, while the older students prefer male, the Beriani, which is the fastest running.”

She said: «One of the beautiful scenes that we see daily is that students gather during the space around two plates of Bernani, who share them with each other, as if it is a small collective meal, which reflects the spirit of familiarity and sharing inside the school.

Children’s kidney consultant, Dr. Zubaydah Al -Ismaili, confirmed that school nutrition is a pivotal factor in supporting the physical and cognitive growth of students, which is reflected directly on their academic achievement and health safety.

She explained that recent studies indicate that balanced meals, which include complex carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, vegetables and calcium sources, give children continuous energy, and improve their ability to focus throughout the school day, as well as their role in reducing absence rates associated with diseases.

She added that the World Health Organization recommends that children eat daily foods from all basic food groups, while reducing the consumption of salt, sugars and saturated fats, as the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses that the daily sodium consumption in children in the school stage does not exceed between 1900 and 2300 mg, as well as the importance of drinking water regularly.

Al -Ismaili stressed that the provision of school meals that take into account food diversity and cultural considerations, as well as enhance food awareness programs, early detection, and follow -up of children with eating disorders, is a strategic step to improve the general health of students, and contributes to creating a more positive and stable educational environment.

Maryam Muhammad:

• Fresh and fruits, sandwiches, grilled dishes, pastries and hot meals enhance proper nutritional behavior among students.

Aisha Al -Zyoudi:

• Introducing traditional meals, such as billets and cowards, in the canteens lists, giving students a feeling of warmth and strengthening their connection to the house.