Press Release

A healthy Mother's Day gift

9 May 2013

The Department of Health (DH) today (May 9) suggested that members of the public should take care of their own health and maintain a healthy lifestyle as a special gift to their mothers.

People usually delight their mothers with gifts such as cards, flowers or even jewels on Mother's Day. However, a commitment to developing healthy eating habits is another way of expressing gratitude and love to mothers.

The Dietitian of Central Health Education Unit (CHEU) of the DH, Ms Shanna Wu, said in today's press conference, "Knowledge and support on healthy eating from mothers is vital in nurturing children's good dietary practices.

"A survey conducted by DH in 2012 on about 7 300 primary 4 and 5 students from 50 primary schools revealed that the respondents who considered their mothers' dietary habits healthy were found to have healthier dietary practices," she said.

Among those who considered their mothers' dietary habits healthy, 71 per cent and 83 per cent respectively ate fruit and vegetables twice or more a day. In addition, about 18 per cent among this group of students had not taken any sugary drinks in the week before the survey. Moreover, about 92 per cent of them had eaten breakfast on the day of the survey, which is five per cent more than the other group.

Such figures revealed that mothers' eating habits greatly influence their children. Mothers should act as positive role models for their kids in promoting healthy eating. For parents who stand by healthy eating principles in order that their kids will adopt healthy dietary practices, they will find their efforts paying off.

Also attending the press conference were the parent representative of Shatin Methodist Primary School, Ms Li Chen, and her son, who is in primary 2. Ms Li said, "It is important to 'lead by example' in assisting kids to nurture a healthy eating habit. I must adhere to a balanced diet to guide my son to follow in my footsteps."

Regardless of being part of the working population or housewives, mothers often play the part of "house manager" for family members. Ms Wu reminded mothers to take heed of the following advice to help their kids form good eating habits:

• Prepare healthy breakfast such as noodles in soup, oatmeal, sandwiches or boiled eggs. Serve fresh fruits, plain bread, low-fat milk or low-sugar soy milk if they do not have enough time to prepare breakfast;
• Provide grains, vegetables and meat in the ratio of 3:2:1 for every meal;
• Pick whole grains such as red rice or brown rice over whites and prepare rice with added vegetables to increase the amount of dietary fibre;
• Use healthier cooking methods such as steaming, blanching, baking, and stir-frying with small amount of oil to reduce fat intake;
• Choose a wide variety of fresh and low-fat ingredients, such as lean meat, poultry without skin, fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat milk. Limit the use of processed or preserved food such as canned food in the recipe;
• Limit the use of oil, salt and sugar and other high-fat or high-salt seasoning such as oyster sauce, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, fish sauce and chicken powder, etc. in cooking;
• Stock fresh fruit at home and serve them as snacks ;
• Avoid keeping too many high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar snacks and drinks at home;
• Provide healthy snacks such as fruit, boiled eggs, plain bread and plain biscuits as necessary;
• Avoid using food as a reward. It will affect children's formation of healthy eating habits.

As Mother's Day is drawing near, Ms Wu recommended members of the public to consider preparing healthy dishes or snacks, or DIY cupcakes, as meaningful gifts for mothers.