Hanoi (VNA) - Experts have recommended a dedicated law on school nutrition to standardise meals, nurturing children’s formative years for physical and intellectual development.
A child’s growth to the age of twelve is considered the "golden period," a critical time for nutritional intake, with 86% of height attained. Given Vietnam’s triple child health concerns - malnutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies, standardised nutrition is essential to the nation’s future health and well being.
This was the consensus at the second International Conference on Nutrition for Vietnamese, themed “School Nutrition” and hosted by the National Institute of Nutrition and the Japan Dietetic Association, with support from TH Group and over 300 experts, policymakers, and international organisations. The discussions provided a foundation for policy advancements to foster physical and intellectual development for Vietnam's future generations.
Professor Nakamura Teiji, President of the Japan Dietetic Association, said Japan's post-WWII focus on school meals became a priority as economic hardships impacted child nutrition. Enacting the 1954 School Lunch Act and the 2005 Basic Law on Food Education, the Japanese Goverment implemented structured nutrition education in schools. Today, up to 99% of Japanese primary schools and 91.5% of junior high schools provide standardised meals, which has significantly improved average height—1.72m for men and 1.58m for women, compared to 1.50m and 1.49m five decades ago.
In the US, although there is no dedicated law, nutrition standards for school meals prioritise low sugar, salt, and fat, with an emphasis on vegetables, grains, and milk. Nutritional education is integrated into curricula, teaching children the value of healthy eating to foster lifelong habits, according to Josselyn Neukom, an expert from the SwipeRx organisation.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phuong Mai emphasised that 95% of serotonin—vital for emotional regulation—is produced in the gut. Healthy gut maintenance, through balanced diets, influences cognitive and emotional development in children. Conversely, diets high in processed sugars and fats can impair memory, academic performance, and emotional stability.
Vietnam faces nutrition-related health challenges, including undernutrition, especially stunting, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. As of 2023, 18.2% of children under five experience stunting, with regional highs of 24.8% in the northern mountainous region and 25.9% in the Central Highlands. Obesity among 5-19-year-olds has doubled to 19% in 2020 from 8.5% in 2010. Addressing these issues through school nutrition is essential to reduce chronic diseases and improve growth.
The Ministry of Education and Training’s pilot model, supported by TH Group, provides natural food-based meals in 10 provinces. It incorporates 400 nutritionally balanced menus and physical activities tailored to developmental needs. Results have shown positive effects on height, weight, and knowledge about healthy eating for students, schools, and families.
Professor Le Thi Hop, President of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, highlighted the importance of school nutrition in supporting child growth and national workforce development. She advocates for a school nutrition law, using the pilot model’s success as a basis to expand it nationwide.
TH Group founder Thai Huong stressed that structured school nutrition is essential for improving physical and cognitive health for youth in Vietnam. Inspired by Japan’s model, she envisioned Vietnam establishing similar legal frameworks. Since 2013, TH Group has pioneered national school milk programmes, collaborating with ministries to ensure safe, traceable milk in schools, and further researching nutrition improvements for children’s early years and school age.
A dedicated school nutrition law would standardise meal preparations, ensure trained school nutrition staff, and incorporate nutrition education into curricula, fostering a healthier future generation./.
