Preparing your child for the 10th grade entrance exam.

Hanoi – Her son is a picky eater who dislikes fish, chicken, or seafood and only loves pork. Ms. Duong Thanh Huyen went online to learn how to make grilled and roasted dishes to make them more appealing to him.

Since her child started preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam, Ms. Huyen's family in Thanh Tri district has switched to a new routine of living and eating. Her husband's job offers more flexible hours, so he's been assigned to cook lunch and dinner. Dinner is always prepared before 6 PM so that their child can attend evening classes until 8:30 PM.

Hoang, Huyen's son, was also excused from doing housework so he could focus on studying for his exams.

"The family wants their child to dedicate all their time to studying. Meals are prepared with rice and soup; fruit and milk are served right to their table," Ms. Huyen said.

This parent said her son is a picky eater, disliking fish, chicken, duck, or seafood, and only loving pork. On days when his favorite dish is available, Hoang can eat 2-3 bowls; otherwise, he only eats to stave off hunger. Therefore, she researched online how to prepare pork in different ways to make it more appealing to her son, such as grilled pork, roasted pork, or pork stew with eggs.

In addition, she bought several cartons of milk for her child to drink throughout the day, and supplemented their diet with various fruits for fiber.

"At this time, I prioritize dishes that my children like, and my parents and younger sibling can eat too," Ms. Huyen said.

Crab soup cooked with spinach and zucchini provides calcium and water, which are beneficial for health. Photo: Bui Thuy

The 10th grade entrance exam in Hanoi took place from June 10-12 with nearly 105,000 candidates participating, while the enrollment quota was around 72,000. Besides transporting students to and from school and preparing for the exam, many parents paid attention to their children's diet and medication to ensure they received adequate nutrition.

Minh, the son of Ms. Le Minh Ha in Cau Giay district, used to restrict his diet due to being overweight, but recently he's been allowed to eat more freely. With the hot weather, she constantly changes the menu to include dishes he likes, such as sour soup, crab soup, spinach, zucchini, and gourds. Minh also receives a Japanese immune-boosting supplement from his mother, costing several hundred thousand dong per bottle.

"My child just finished one bottle, and I'm having to ask someone to buy another one. With this kind of weather, we need to boost our child's immunity so they don't get sick easily," said Ms. Ha. She also makes tofu pudding, jelly, and various kinds of sweet soups for her child herself. The refrigerator is always stocked with yogurt, Milo, or probiotic milk to aid digestion.

Parents also advised each other to refrain from yelling, scolding, or making noise, to avoid stressing their children. Ms. Giang Mai Thanh and her husband in Thanh Xuan district often let their children watch movies, listen to music, or cover Korean dances in their free time. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Tam in Ha Dong district affectionately and gently talks to her child.

"Before going to work or going to bed, I hug my child and say 'Mommy loves you.' Sometimes I also sleep with her to remind her to go to bed early and ask if she has any problems," Ms. Tam said.

Besides food, parents can prepare simple, refreshing drinks for students taking exams, such as kumquat tea, perilla leaf tea, pennywort juice, and sour plum juice... Photo: Bui Thuy

According to Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung, Head of the Adult Nutrition Examination and Counseling Department at the National Institute of Nutrition, he is often asked by parents to advise on diet and rest for their children during exam season.

He stated that there is no single food that specifically enhances memory and mental clarity; instead, parents need to create a diverse, nutritious, and balanced diet.

With the hot summer weather, Mr. Hung advises choosing seasonal foods to minimize the risk of food safety and hygiene issues. Prepared dishes should be eaten as quickly as possible. If there's any left over, parents should store it in the refrigerator, separating raw and cooked food. Parents should also avoid preparing dishes that are unfamiliar to their children.

Besides seafood and poultry such as duck, chicken, pork, and beef, parents should also pay attention to protein from milk and eggs. Green vegetables and fruits should be an essential part of the daily menu.

"Crab soup provides both calcium and protein, which are good for health," Dr. Hung suggested. In addition, parents should divide the meal into smaller portions to make it easier for children to eat.

Dr. Hung noted that parents have been paying more attention to their children's nutrition but often become anxious and overemphasize the issue. Exams are important, but parents shouldn't put pressure on their children regarding both academics and diet. A common mistake is forcing children to eat excessively in a short period and buying supplements and functional foods to enhance memory and mental clarity. Any supplementation should be done under the guidance of a doctor.

"Nutrition, like education , requires time and a process, not just focusing on exam periods," he said, warning that excessive and inappropriate supplementation can lead to obesity and digestive problems.

In addition, proper nutrition must be accompanied by adequate rest. Parents should not let their children stay up late or have irregular sleep patterns.

"One way to help children reduce stress and learn more effectively is to encourage them to maintain physical activity, the simplest being helping their parents and grandparents with household chores," Mr. Hung said.

Dawn

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