As the COVID-19 pandemic kept children away from schools, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has now come up with a new programme to encourage them to return to schools in a healthy way. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has recently launched the ‘School Lunchbox’ programme that runs from August 22 to September 9.

As a part of the ‘Back to School’ programme, the initiative includes several innovative awareness activities that aim to provide parents with the necessary skills to prepare their kids’ lunchboxes and encourage them to eat healthy foods and avoid the ones high on calories.

Represented by the Health Promotion Department, the programme involves a set of educational activities aimed at raising awareness among mothers about the proper ways to prepare the lunch box.

The initiative also provides virtual culinary courses to inform community members about the healthy ingredients of the school lunchbox and ways of its storage. It also includes a live cooking show that tells how to prepare snacks and healthy meals, in addition to handing out recipe booklets, and lunch box packing tips at the shopping malls across the country.

The Ministry will also promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness on its social media platforms to help individuals make smart choices about the healthy nutritional value of their children’s school lunch bag.

As a part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to organise awareness programs, the ‘School Lunch Box’ aims to promote preventive behaviours and sound practices among the children. Its aim is to raise healthy and active generations, provide mental and physical safety, and enhance healthcare levels according to the best international practices.

The program falls within the national initiative in promoting healthy lifestyles awareness in society, with the importance of consolidating the preventive aspect and reducing lifestyle-related diseases.