ABU DHABI // Top chefs will tackle child obesity by teaching children in Abu Dhabi about healthy eating habits and the joy of cooking.
They will give hour-long school classes on food preparation and healthy living, with parents and teachers learning too.
“Involving parents and teachers in that commitment is key to ensuring our children’s healthy futures,” said Justin Galea, executive chef at Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi, who will lead the Adopt A School programme with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in the UK.
With about 18 per cent of children between the ages of two and 15 considered clinically obese, Mr Galea said the initiative was important for children’s health.
“Sourcing, preparing and eating healthy, good quality food is very important to me,” he said.
As a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts since 2011, Mr Galea was already familiar with the programme and introduced the idea to Le Royal Meridien and the Starwood hotel chain.
“After understanding more about the initiative, we realised that it could be much bigger and even more successful if we had the backing of the Starwood group,” said Shaun Parsons, the hotel’s general manager.
“We’re looking forward to working together with other Starwood hotels to make a difference to the children of Abu Dhabi.”
Mr Galea will be training other Starwood hotel chefs in the city in how to deliver the programme, and the scheme will begin in schools this month.
“As we increasingly see more health problems such as obesity and diabetes, it’s important that we as food experts share our knowledge on nutrition and good food preparation with the new generation,” he said.
Other hotels taking part are Aloft, the Sheraton, St Regis Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Island Resort, and the Westin.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.