![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FASH3CDXMFGPFNAXRASPLHY2JY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ca1796a35ac6d64ae996958872a112ce5d357ead889fb62d1edfae98263ef16&width=400&height=225)
Still, pupils at Dubai British School Emirates Hills seem to be enjoying the cafeteria
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OFWW2JFEOJA6ZMBLOZOSWSJ3MQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b016f9ec051c58b6adf1d2fabcbe8d54c11b8e31b3cf4a145ab150df8f20b2cf&width=400&height=225)
Wraps and sandwiches on offer during lunch hour at the Dubai British School Emirates Hills cafe, after staff kept track of what children who eat packed lunches were bringing. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKLNZ7FLANHBPHSRAGG547G5QI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d991816202994d2c68a027dc1bb420a49dec13e7381cc3173d0c272504f7c1d0&width=400&height=225)
Many school cafeterias in the UAE are serving up healthier meals, with pupils' well-being in mind
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQ4WPPHES5DMVE5LL2ZGN7HRL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=28df6cf80735f0e3a3457fbd8f45c2a51f104b2d7a5390d4658f3c3d9f18ad1a&width=400&height=225)
School meals in the UAE are regularly inspected for nutritional value
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGVOGVUXUNHMDB7CST2VWE4IL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc7d873c88d83cfe741107b3e86617e93ca4056836799d5154f65ae6115c5f1b&width=400&height=225)
Education authorities in each emirate regulate the food and drink on offer, setting standards and outsourcing meals to providers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTBWEYJ2ANFEZCVJBMTAY3XJGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b92999611b36107cc62ad36b992ac07ce26d35d3655d8f0c38ca4c308a05c8c&width=400&height=225)
Sarah Reynolds, principal at Dubai British School Emirates Hills, said teachers monitored lunches that were being brought from home by pupils
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7LB6ACKK7FCX7J2HNN4NQUME6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4c2fc5b07de17b86fa88b9f3bdc4c1e8b776aac753aa5e691f4c9b9197b1e1c&width=400&height=225)
Ms Reynolds said 'if we feel that there's too much sugar in a child's packed lunch day-to-day, we would engage with the family'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPEBVIOBUZHGNASC2UGWNAWIUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a55e65767abe4cd260e32ba0b05565e0971bacb589a40b2e07d88904dab7cca&width=400&height=225)
Lunch hour is now a healthier experience for pupils at the Dubai school
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FYELPG4GERFUXBPVF6PRQANULY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee611949c3905008aff429f4fb09ce7c4328a728f74236d2a5bc28a648a028e9&width=400&height=225)
Parents also say school meals have become healthier with sensible portion sizes but more needs to be done to monitor lunches brought from home
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FASH3CDXMFGPFNAXRASPLHY2JY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ca1796a35ac6d64ae996958872a112ce5d357ead889fb62d1edfae98263ef16&width=400&height=225)
Still, pupils at Dubai British School Emirates Hills seem to be enjoying the cafeteria
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OFWW2JFEOJA6ZMBLOZOSWSJ3MQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b016f9ec051c58b6adf1d2fabcbe8d54c11b8e31b3cf4a145ab150df8f20b2cf&width=400&height=225)
Wraps and sandwiches on offer during lunch hour at the Dubai British School Emirates Hills cafe, after staff kept track of what children who eat packed lunches were bringing. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKLNZ7FLANHBPHSRAGG547G5QI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d991816202994d2c68a027dc1bb420a49dec13e7381cc3173d0c272504f7c1d0&width=400&height=225)
Many school cafeterias in the UAE are serving up healthier meals, with pupils' well-being in mind
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQ4WPPHES5DMVE5LL2ZGN7HRL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=28df6cf80735f0e3a3457fbd8f45c2a51f104b2d7a5390d4658f3c3d9f18ad1a&width=400&height=225)
School meals in the UAE are regularly inspected for nutritional value
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGVOGVUXUNHMDB7CST2VWE4IL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc7d873c88d83cfe741107b3e86617e93ca4056836799d5154f65ae6115c5f1b&width=400&height=225)
Education authorities in each emirate regulate the food and drink on offer, setting standards and outsourcing meals to providers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTBWEYJ2ANFEZCVJBMTAY3XJGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b92999611b36107cc62ad36b992ac07ce26d35d3655d8f0c38ca4c308a05c8c&width=400&height=225)
Sarah Reynolds, principal at Dubai British School Emirates Hills, said teachers monitored lunches that were being brought from home by pupils
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7LB6ACKK7FCX7J2HNN4NQUME6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4c2fc5b07de17b86fa88b9f3bdc4c1e8b776aac753aa5e691f4c9b9197b1e1c&width=400&height=225)
Ms Reynolds said 'if we feel that there's too much sugar in a child's packed lunch day-to-day, we would engage with the family'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPEBVIOBUZHGNASC2UGWNAWIUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a55e65767abe4cd260e32ba0b05565e0971bacb589a40b2e07d88904dab7cca&width=400&height=225)
Lunch hour is now a healthier experience for pupils at the Dubai school
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FYELPG4GERFUXBPVF6PRQANULY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee611949c3905008aff429f4fb09ce7c4328a728f74236d2a5bc28a648a028e9&width=400&height=225)
Parents also say school meals have become healthier with sensible portion sizes but more needs to be done to monitor lunches brought from home
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FASH3CDXMFGPFNAXRASPLHY2JY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ca1796a35ac6d64ae996958872a112ce5d357ead889fb62d1edfae98263ef16&width=400&height=225)
Still, pupils at Dubai British School Emirates Hills seem to be enjoying the cafeteria
A lesson in nutrition: UAE schools ditch deep fat fryers to put healthy meals on the menu
Parents praise schools for making progress - but there is still work to do
![Anam Rizvi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F87bb1498-1e45-493f-9f35-cbae78f6f52b.png?smart=true&auth=fa4172315f8e7009403787975bfcf9a11521dcd852ffd3bf8362a1112a39a830&width=70&height=70)
Anam Rizvi
23 January, 2024
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