Instant noodle diet making Asian children unhealthy, says Unicef report

Food for thought: As families from poorer households ditch traditional diets for more affordable and easy-to-prepare meals, an average of 40% of children aged five and below are malnourished. — AFP

Manila: A diet heavy on cheap, modern food like instant noodles that fills bellies but lacks key nutrients has left millions of children unhealthily thin or overweight in South-East Asia, experts say.

The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have booming economies and rising standards of living, yet many working parents do not have the time, money or awareness to steer clear of food hurting their kids.