Today, on the eve of Children's Day, the Institute of Parliamentarism under the UDP of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Women's Wing of the AMANAT party, held a round table on healthy nutrition in schools and preschools. The participants of the meeting spoke in favor of the introduction of school nutrition standards based on scientific recommendations.
As the moderator of the discussion, Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhuldyz Suleimenova noted in her speech, in order to ensure access to high-quality and balanced nutrition for schoolchildren, it is necessary to introduce standards based on scientific recommendations on nutrition, teach teachers and parents the basics of healthy nutrition, as well as develop a national program to teach children the basics of healthy nutrition and the formation of eating habits.
Deputy Director of the Institute of Parliamentarism Lyazzat Suleimenov stressed that the purpose of the round table is not only to discuss problematic issues of rational nutrition of schoolchildren, but also to develop practical recommendations that will help improve the nutrition of children in educational institutions.
Secretary of the AMANAT party Sholpan Karinova recalled that since September 1, 2023, free meals have been organized for more than 1.5 million students from low-income families, as well as primary school students, regardless of social status. At the same time, research in 2023 by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the National Center for Healthy Nutrition (NCSP) showed that energy and nutrient consumption standards in Kazakhstan do not meet international standards, and the salt and sugar content in Kazakhstani food exceeds international standards.
"This leads to an increase in the number of overweight and obese children (18%), which negatively affects their health and future. According to the results of a survey of schoolchildren, slightly more than half are satisfied with the school menu, and 21% either do not like the food, or they do not eat at all in the school cafeteria - 20%. Such studies help to understand the depth of the existing problems in school nutrition," Karinova stressed.
The round table was attended by deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Maslikhat of Astana, representatives of the Women's Wing of the AMANAT Party, the Ministry of Education, the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, the National Center for Healthy Nutrition of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Medical University, S.Seifullin KazATU, school principals, scientists and experts.
The recommendations formed on the basis of the materials of the round table will be sent to the authorized state bodies and the Parliament.
