It’s a challenge to provide a balanced diet

GEORGE TOWN: Busy parents may rely on school canteen operators to feed their children but the rising food and operating costs may lower the quality of food at schools.

Dietitian Jazeera Julaili said children from the age of seven and above were in a crucial developmental phase and needed a high amount of calories and protein while girls approaching puberty also required among other essential nutrients, a large amount of iron.