Nestlé Malaysia Empowers Parents to Champion Healthy Eating Among Kids

 Marking its 14th year of instilling healthy eating habits among Malaysian schoolchildren, Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK), a collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), is expanding its outreach through its Parent Engagement Programme (N4HK PARENPRO), first held at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kepong Baru. Recognising that there are nutrition knowledge and practice gaps among parents, this pilot initiative aims to empower parents towards creating a lasting positive impact on children’s eating habits that will continue into their adulthood, building a new generation of healthier Malaysians. 

This effort is part of Nestlé's global N4HK initiative to empower 50 million children worldwide to lead healthier lives by the year 2030. The programme also aligns with Nestlé’s Good For You strategy, which aims to make tasty and balanced diets accessible to billions of consumers, today and for generations to come. 

The introduction of N4HK PARENPRO comes at a crucial time. According to the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines for Children & Adolescents 2023 by the Ministry of Health, parents are recommended to be role models for children by practising healthy eating behaviours. Research indicates that while children may have the knowledge, it may not be translated into habits at home.

Ms. Wong Mei Ching, Group Corporate Nutrition Manager of Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd, shared, “Poor nutrition is among the key reasons contributing to malnutrition issues among Malaysia children, which include overnutrition, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. By providing support and guidance for parents to better understand the value of healthy eating habits, we can help them become more actively involved in making better nutritional choices for their families. N4HK PARENPRO aims to empower families with effective tools and knowledge needed to support children’s development through balanced nutrition and healthier lifestyles.” 

Associate Professor Dr. Mahenderan Appukutty, President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, said, "The expansion of N4HK to include parent engagement is vital to enhance nutrition education in Malaysia. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and home environment, this initiative has the potential to support lasting behavioural changes in our local communities. NSM is encouraged by the programme's holistic approach, and we look forward to seeing N4HK's continued positive impact in fostering healthier eating habits among Malaysian families."

A total of more than 100 parents and children attended the inaugural N4HK PARENPRO programme, which featured a series of engaging and immersive activities. The highlight of the event was the return of the "Together in the Kitchen" session, where local influencer and celebrity Noor Nabila was joined by her son Jebat Jayden in a cooking demonstration on how to prepare a simple, tasty and nutritious meal together. Also on hand was nutritionist Afiqah Kahar, sharing practical tips on incorporating fruits and vegetables into daily meals. This culminated in a cooking competition, which saw 10 pairs of parents and children showing off their culinary skills as they worked together to create nutritionally-balanced bento boxes, transforming meal preparation into a family activity. 

Other highlights of the day included hands-on group activities focusing on topics such as meal planning using the Malaysian Healthy Plate and practical approaches to address common challenges faced by parents when feeding children. The session was complemented by a cooking demonstration by a professional chef from the Professional Culinaire Association (PCA), who joined the event in conjunction with International Chefs Day which is celebrated annually in October. Meanwhile, the children reinforced their knowledge of the Malaysian Food Pyramid and Malaysian Healthy Plate through fun and interactive games, as well as getting creative through a hands-on food decoration workshop.  

One of the longest-running nutrition education programmes in Malaysian primary schools, N4HK has benefitted more than 149,000 schoolchildren since its inception in 2010 through its strong collaboration with the MOE and NSM. With a focus on instilling positive lifelong habits that bring families closer, N4HK continues to make positive strides in driving nutrition education and healthy eating habits across Malaysia.