The Ministry of Health and Prevention,represented for by the Department of Health Education and Promotion, concluded the first edition of 'Junior Chef Program' program in cooperation with the Ministry of Society and Knowledge Advancement and the Sharjah Girl Guides. The program, which started on August 1, 2017 till August 28, 2017, is part of the Ministry's efforts to minimize obesity in children to 12 per cent by 2021 in line with the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 National Schedule. 'Junior Chef Program' objectives to elevate children's recognition on the importance of consuming healthy food, offer them with healthy and balanced shopping skills and selecting healthy and balanced food alternatives.

Targeting children aged 10 to 15 years, instructional workshops on healthy food and cooking have actually been accomplished under the guidance of a skilled nutritional expert. In addition, understanding excursion was organized to the Lulu Hypermarket to supply participants with details concerning smart and healthy and balanced buying and appropriate label reading to assist them select healthy products. Under the program, the participants have actually been examined and picked to qualify for the final 'Cooking Contest.'

Dr. Fathila Mohamed Sherif - Director of Health Education & Promotion Department, Ministry of Health and Avoidance, stated that 'Junior Chef Program' is one of the Ministry's efforts promoting behavior changes among children to prevent conditions and urge fostering of healthy way of lives. Encouraging people, especially children, to adopt healthy way of lives becomes part of the Ministry's goal to build a healthy UAE community.

In line with the objectives of UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda, she included that the Ministry seeks to minimize obesity in children to 12 percent by 2021 by launching relevant activities and occasions.

From her side, Shaimaa Khalifa, Nutritional expert and Manager for 'Junior Chef Program', kept in mind that, under the recurring program, the children have the ability to bond with their peers while cooking their favored dishes and meals. Additionally, they will certainly have a chance to win the 'Junior Chef Program' award. Part of the competitors entails 25 young participants preparing their favorite dishes in a healthy and balanced method. The dishes, which should include all food groups, will certainly be examined based on the offered requirements, including the cooking methods used and selection of healthy and balanced choices made to influence them to take on a healthy and balanced living.

Past preparing healthy meals within the offered period, the participants ought to be able to show their imagination. The champions will certainly be honored throughout the closing ceremony where gifts courtesy of Malabar gold & ruby will be distributed.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched a variety of programs and initiatives advertising healthy and balanced way of livings and fighting obesity in UAE society and youngsters especially. These consist of taking part in promoting the value of consuming healthy food, providing needed skills, developing a healthy environment, and entailing communities and civil culture organizations in appropriate programs.