Starchild: Malaysian children enjoy eating healthy and nutritious food

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 11

These days, even children are becoming more health conscious. We received many letters on the topic, Nutritious Food. Judging from the letters, it certainly looks like many of our readers know the importance of healthy eating!

That's good because a balanced diet is one of the keys to good health.

Astrid Bek-Nielsen, 11, thinks it is important to eat clean and healthy food. “I think that if you eat a balanced diet, you will mostly be healthy as you will consume lots of nutrients and vitamins. This will lead to a healthy mind and body.”

“My balanced meal has a lot of fruits and vegetables, some carbohydrates, protein, dairy products and lastly, a tiny amount of sugar and fat. We need to eat a balanced diet to reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure, cancer and high cholesterol, ” writes Sidaarrth Saravanan, 10.

Sidarrth Saravanan, 10

“I enjoy pasta. Pasta is a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates give you energy to run, walk, and swim. It is important to eat a balanced diet because you can become strong, and healthy. Then I can become as fit as Mummy and strong as Daddy," says Claire Yap Jyn Wei, five.

Claire Yap Jyn Wei, five

Older sibling Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, eight, writes: “I am eating fried noodles. It is healthy because it has chicken meat and a lot of other vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and capsicum. I love eating fruit such as apples, cherries, bananas, and guavas too. I have to eat healthily so that I will become strong and tall like my parents.”

Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, eight

Six-year-old Bethany Wang Qi Syuen loves fruits and vegetables. She says these nutritious foods have vitamins that are important for her physical growth. “They help keep my bowel movements smooth. Juicy watermelon and rose apples are among my favourite fruits that hydrate me on hot days.”

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 6

“It's important to eat healthy food because these foods have nutrients to keep my eyes, teeth, bones, nails and hair strong and healthy. Some of my favourite healthy foods like milk, bread, cereals and oatmeal are also high in calcium and are yummy, ” says three-year-old Asher Wang Qi Chuen.

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 3

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, eight, enjoys fruits because they are refreshing and are a good source of vitamins and minerals. "It is important to eat fruits regularly because they help the body protect against diseases. An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 8

Older sibling Jodie Tan Li Juen, 11, writes: "I love mango, watermelon, apple and grapes. Fruits keeps me healthy and strong. Watermelon juice is a perfect thirst quencher especially during the hot weather."

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 11

Teng Ee Loyse, six

“My teachers at school always ask us to eat healthy foods so we can grow up strong, ” writes Teng Ee Loyse, six. – Compiled by Sheela Chandran

Find the hidden words!

ITEM: On April 4, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter Sunday, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Easter, children are given a free hand to paint and decorate their very own Easter eggs.

Starchild wants readers to get creative and show us how they might design patterns on eggs. You can draw and colour one egg or as many eggs as you like. Or draw a picture of the Easter bunny on your eggs. Don't send us any eggs, though – just a drawing of your Easter egg designs! Don’t forget to send in a letter with some fun facts about anything related to Easter. It can range from bunnies to chocolates.

E-mail your contributions to [e-mail] by March 26. Please put “STARCHILD: Easter” in the subject line of your e-mail. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200 dpi.

Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address.