The threats are real. In the UAE, child obesity and plastic pollution are affecting our lives and those of future generations. However, they can be slowed or stopped, and it starts locally.

Luckily, parents and schools can positively influence children’s health and environmental choices now to impact their future lives. Children’s fun, healthy, sustainable and hassle-free lunch box delivery service, Petit Gourmet, tackles both problems head-on with gusto and a French-twist, ready for the new Dubai academic school year 2019-20.

A recent study discovered an alarming number of children in the UAE are overweight (14.7%) and obese (18.9%). Not only will they carry their weight problem to adulthood, but they are likely to suffer from high blood sugar, hypertension and cholesterol: risk factors contribute to up to 70% of all deaths worldwide (World Health Organisation). Obese children can have mental health issues too: they are inclined to have low self-esteem, be bullied, skip school and have poorer job prospects.

Our planet is drowning in single-use plastic pollution. According to the United Nations, we produce 300 million tonnes per year, with 79% ending in landfills, dumps or our environment. Our oceans receive eight million tonnes of plastic per year and by 2050, the World Economic Forum estimates there will be more plastic than fish.

What is the answer? Educate children now! International organisations and the UAE Government do all they can to encourage healthy kid lifestyles and waste reduction, but it’s up to parents and schools to do their part. As of today, together we can make nutritious meals available to children in sustainable packaging to ingrain healthy eating habits and educate about planet preservation.

French mothers, Céline Lamperin and Virginie Seurat, are doing just this.

Passionate about kids’ eating healthily and zero-waste, together they formed Petit Gourmet: a reusable bento-style lunch box delivery service. Prepared by a French chef and a nutritionist, food becomes fun again for fussy eaters and life easy for time-poor parents. Food quality is assured as all meal ingredients are either organic or sustainably sourced and are approved by the food safety department of Dubai Municipality. This theme continues as 20 different and easy to order meals are homemade in-house daily and delivered by chilled vans. After lunch, the boxes are recuperated and sterilised for their next use, further reducing waste.

Mrs Lamperin said “Our mission is to raise the standard of catering to schools and nurseries in the UAE. Everyone should have access to transparent ingredients, healthy meals and preserve the planet at the same time. Thus Petit Gourmet is revolutionising children’s lunches and ready to serve you for the Dubai academic school year 2019-20.”

Highly demanded by parents, Petit Gourmet makes educational institutions more attractive to existing and potential children. Of note they recently partnered with BOUNCE, the world’s leading adrenaline playground, to further promote healthy lifestyles and sustainability among their young clients. Petit Gourmet is open to forming strategic partnerships with schools, nurseries and children’s entertainment venues in Dubai to further enhance their cold-meal food offering.