Starchild: Cool treats Malaysian kids love to find in the fridge

Siti Aishah Ismail, 12

Do you like to peek into the fridge to see what you have in it? Maybe you tiptoe to the kitchen, open the door ­quietly and look at all the yummy things inside.

Mohd Adam Ismail, 8Do you like to check out what Mummy has bought from the supermarket?

Perhaps there are chocolates, your favourite drink, or a big bunch of grapes waiting to be eaten. Sometimes, you might even spot a tub of ice cream!

A fridge is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen.

Many years ago, people didn’t have fridges. They had to eat food quickly before it spoiled.

In colder countries, they would store food outside in the snow to keep it fresh. Later, iceboxes were invented.

These were wooden or metal boxes with large blocks of ice inside to keep things cool.

Calum Lau Jet Yun, 6Today’s fridges are modern, with temperature controls, ­compartments for vegetables and fruits, and even water ­dispensers.

Some can even ­connect to the Internet! They are called “smart fridges”.

Fridges are not just for ­storing treats. They are also where you will find healthy food that helps you grow strong.

Milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt, fresh vegetables and fruits are all great for your body.

Instead of grabbing a sugary drink, you can choose plain water or fresh juice. Instead of a chocolate bar, try some chilled watermelon or a crunchy carrot stick.

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My Fridge.

Macke Lau Jae Yun, 10“My dream fridge has ­transparent doors so that I can look inside. I will make sure that I have everything I like in my fridge, like cheese, fruits and vegetables, milk, ice cream and chocolate, juice, jam and spreads, nuts, honey and maple syrup and many more. I want my fridge to have many things, including healthy and not so healthy things so that I can try many different types of foods,” says Macke Lau Jae Yun, 10.

Mabel Shalini Menon, 8“In my fridge, there is always a big tub of chocolate ice cream. I also see apples, grapes and sometimes strawberries. Mummy keeps cheese slices in a small box. I like to open the fridge because it feels cool inside. My favourite thing is when Daddy surprises me with jelly cups,” says Mabel Shalini Menon, eight.

Eight-year-old Mohd Adam Ismail says his fridge is full of food and drinks.

“There are watermelon and cucumbers in the vegetable drawer. My brother likes chocolate, so there is always some in the fridge.“I like to keep my favourite chocolate pudding inside so it stays cold. Sometimes I open the fridge just to look, but Mama says I must close it fast or the food will not stay fresh.”

Older sibling Siti Aishah Ismail, 12, writes: “The fridge is filled with food. On the top shelf, we have jelly, cheese and honey. The middle shelf has yoghurt drinks and fruits like grapes, oranges, apple and pear.

“I often see curry, fried noodles or soup that Mama made. I try to choose healthy snacks from the fridge because I know it is better for my body than too much ice cream or sweets.”

Jacob Lau Jien Yun, 8“I like calamansi juice because it is refreshing,” says Calum Lau Jet Yun, six.

“My dream fridge has milk, calamansi juice, cheese, nuts, chocolate, cake, jam, two blocks of butter, Coke, dates and maple syrup. My favourite of all is milk,” says eight-year-old Jacob Lau Jien Yun.

ITEM: Have you ever gone camping? Imagine spending the night in a cosy tent, listening to the sounds of nature, and waking up to fresh morning air. Sounds fun, right? Tell us about your dream camping trip! What are the items you would pack? Maybe a sleeping bag, a torchlight, or your favourite board game? What food would you bring along? Would you pack sandwiches, instant noodles, marshmallows for roasting, or biscuits? Where would you like to go camping? It could be in the forest, by the beach, beside a river, or even in your own backyard!

Draw us a picture of your camping trip if you like. We’d love to see your ideas! Don’t forget to send us letters too.

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Aug 30. Please put “STARCHILD: Camping” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.