Tips On Maintaining Children's Health In The Midst Of Uncertain Weather

Illustration of children consuming healthy food (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Uncertain weather conditions often disturb the immunity of the child's body so that it makes him more susceptible to illness. Therefore, maintaining the health of children in the midst of uncertain weather changes seems important to be the concern of parents.

Doctor of the University of Indonesia (UI) Clinical Nutrition Resident, dr. Nadhira Afifa, MPH shares tips that can be done when children enter school in the midst of weather changes.

"Yes, so indeed, if the weather is like rain, change the heat, it is indeed vulnerable to illness," said doctor Nadhira Afifa, when met after a discussion on PHBS in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

Uncertain weather changes such as rain to heat often trigger diseases such as coughs and runny noses. Nadhira said that in dealing with changes, one of them was by wearing masks.

"At least if you go to school, if for example there are symptoms of a little flu, you immediately wear a mask, so you don't pass it on to other friends," he said.

Then, make it easier for children to apply hand washing behavior to eating foods that are high in protein or supplementation, such as vitamin D or zinc which tends to be mandatory for children.

The doctor who is also a graduate of the Harvard University Master of Public Health reminded the importance of parental support in getting used to children bringing healthy supplies to school.

This aims to prevent children from buying snacks or nutritious food such as high snack sodium or high sugar and sweet drinks at school. However, in supporting this, of course cooperation is needed between parents and the school.

"If all of his friends bring sweet bread, actually the child is also sending it, so there must be a role for the family and a role from school as well," he added.

In addition, parents also need to equip their children with balanced healthy and nutritious food, one of the references that can be used is the "My Piring Fill" guideline from the Ministry of Health.

He gave an example of a food menu that can be used as a simple provision for school children, the most important thing is that there are animal side dishes, such as egg fried rice, chicken-filled sandwiches, rice with fish.

"So in one plate there are divided into two, the two-thirds of rice and vegetables, and the other two-thirds of animal side dishes with the fruit, so just follow the composition," he said.