Three out of four Singapore kids not eating right by Quek Sue Lyn Sarah     Chicken patty and chicken cutlet - those are what seven-year-old Chloe Teng usually eats during recess time in school.   "I like fruits but I don't like vegetables. I eat vegetables at home but don't really like to eat them in school because they taste bitter," says the Primary 2 student.   Chloe's fussy eating habit is not uncommon among Singapore kids. According to the Health Promotion Board (HPB), children here are not eating enough fruit and vegetables required for healthy growth and development.   HPB recently released research findings on the eating habits of Singapore's school-going children. According to the study, only 25 per cent of children aged between seven and 12 years are consuming the recommended servings of vegetables and fruit daily.   According to Letty Shiu, dietitan at HPB, children who do not consume enough of this food group may lack certain vitamins and minerals that are crucial for their healthy growth and development.   "Fruits and vegetables are rich in important vitamins and minerals, and are excellent sources of fibre and antioxidants," added Ms Shiu.   "Furthermore, an increased intake of fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of many diseases such as heart disease, stroke and certain cancers in later life."       Enter the healthy set meal   In order to promote healthy living in schools, HPB has introduced the Health Promoting School Canteen initiative. The pilot programme, which was launched at Wellington Primary School last month, will ensure that students have a well-balanced diet on a daily basis in school.   Students participating in the programme will consume appropriate proportions of food from the four main food groups, ensuring they will meet some of the necessary nutrient requirements for their age group.   The Healthy Set Meals were designed by dietitians from HPB and five canteen vendors at Wellington Primary School. The vendors were also trained on healthy cooking methods and ways to incorporate healthier ingredients.   Through this programme, HPB hopes to tackle the growing concern of obesity among school-going children (9.7 per cent) and inculcate good eating habits early in life.   Ang Hak Seng, HPB's chief executive officer said the childhood years are a critical period in developing one's eating preferences. He added: "Studies reveal that when children are introduced to balanced diets during childhood, they are more likely to choose balanced meals as they proceed into adolescence and adulthood." Sarah Quek   Is your child getting enough of each food group? HPB's recommended number of servings of food groups for children aged between 7 and 18 years.       Food Groups - Recommended number of servings - Example of 1 serving   Rice and alternatives (of which 2 to 3 servings should be whole grain products) - 5 to 6 servings - ½ bowl rice (100g), ½ bowl noodles or beehoon (100g) or 2 slices of bread   Fruit (should not be used to replace vegetables in the diet because they contain different kinds of nutrients) - 2 servings - 1 small apple, orange, pear or mango (130g)   Vegetables - 2 servings - ¾ cup cooked leafy vegetables (100g)   Meat and alternatives - 2 servings - 1 palm-sized piece fish, lean meat or skinless poultry (90g)   Milk (in addition to the meat and alternatives serving needs) - 250 to 500 ml                   This article was featured in Today August 2, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC110802-0000012/Is-Junior-eating-right?