It all began with hunger pangs after the college cafeteria had closed. Searching for something to eat during her evening classes, Samira Al Romaithi’s only option was vending machines.
And what they were offering did not exactly meet her idea of a healthy meal. Snacks and drinks high in sugar and fat but low in nutrition.
“The only healthy option in stock was the water,” she recalls.
Then, on holiday in California, Ms Al Romaithi encountered more vending machines. But this time the options were healthy.
After completing her studies for a second master’s degree, she decided to combine her entrepreneurial spirit with an interest in healthy eating and develop a new kind of vending machine for the UAE.
Consulting a nutritionist to help her offer healthier products, she found there was nothing comparable in the market.
“We opted to go for products that are healthier alternatives to the ones in conventional machines,” Ms Al Romaithi says.
There were other obstacles for her new company, Yalla Eat Healthy, including convincing clients that they needed to replace unhealthy food items in their existing machines. Many locations also had existing contracts with other vending machine companies that could not be broken.
With help from the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, Ms Al Romaithi was able to launch Yalla Eat Healthy in 2011, although she admits that, “it took a while for the business to pick up”.
Her company, she says, has a simple business philosophy: to improve the eating habits of residents by providing quick and healthy food choices.
“There are many cases of people suffering from chronic diseases and other health problems, so the idea of having a convenient way to provide people with more healthier options seemed more appealing,” she says.
Yalla Eat Healthy operates 35 vending machines across Abu Dhabi, with locations in hospitals, universities and workplaces. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of sugary sodas and fat-filled snacks out there.
The National inspected 12 vending machines in hospitals, universities and private and public sector companies.
Only two places offered healthy options. This included the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company clinic at Al Maqta where the machine only stocked water.
“Almost two years ago, the vending machine contradicted healthy living with its unhealthy service,” says one staff member, who asked not to be named.
“The administration put in water instead and opened a Caribou Coffee to meet the demand.”
Typical items in Yalla Eat Healthy vending machines include a tuna light lunch and pressed fruit juices.
For children there are reduced sugar drinks and snacks and low calorie snacks. There are also fruit bars and crisps that are baked rather than fried.
Every product is carefully chosen for their low calorie and fat content.
Ms Al Romaithi says she is on a mission to spread health awareness and the importance of sustaining a healthier lifestyle.
“It was, and is still, taking time to build up awareness because products sold in Yalla machines cost more than those in conventional ones because of the higher quality or brands of products provided.”
Having healthier snacks in places like schools, universities, gyms and health facilities can help to guide people to make the right choices when it comes to their health, Ms Al Romaithi says.
“I have a personal interest in fitness and healthy living and so I think it is unfortunate that there are still so many vending machines on the market that provide unhealthy options.”
Yalla does not completely avoid products such as chocolates and cookies. “We do have candy bars but with lower calories, fat and sugar,” says Ms Al Romaithi. As people become more aware about the importance of eating healthier, she hopes to slowly introduce more healthy alternatives and cater for those with allergies, offering gluten-free and peanut-free snacks.
Her vending machines also feature TV screens giving information and tips about nutrition and fitness. In the near future, she plans to partner with other organisations to help spread awareness and information about healthy living using the screens. So far, the reaction from the public has been positive, she says, with many taking the advice.
Dr Mirey Karavetian is an assistant professor at Zayed University and a clinical dietician at the Genesis Clinic in Dubai.
She notices that even though the university’s catering offers plenty of nutritious options, students still like to visit traditional vending machines.
“We are working on eliminating the unhealthy machines in the campus,” she says. “In any institution or entity, people take whatever is available.
“If a person eats a chocolate bar or fizzy drink, what happens is it keeps her satisfied for only an hour,” says Dr Karavetian. Such kind of foods offer sugar that is quickly absorbed in the blood stream and uses up valuable calories, she says.
This kind of eating pattern means that people are supplementing their diet with foods that have none of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients of regular meals, she notes.
“You ate a meal that had the same calories, but didn’t give you satisfaction.”
As a result, people are reaching their daily calorie limit but are still hungry.
Dr Karavetian points out that only children should be eating snacks as part of their daily diet. For anyone older than 13 or 14, they are unnecessary. And when people turn to vending machines it is often because they are hungry and missing out on a regular meal.
“Those who plan to have snacks should have it after their lunch, around 4pm when they get sleepy,” she says.
Her solution is to replace the current vending machines, which are designed for products with a long shelf life such as chocolate or biscuits, with more advanced temperature-controlled models. This allows institutions such as universities to offer sandwiches, vegetables, fruit, yogurt and milk.
“If an institution complies with a healthier system, people will be obliged to follow a healthier lifestyle,” she says.
Dr Karavetian is working on a study that focuses on the risk of Metabolic Syndrome, a cluster of diseases that includes obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, among Emirati students at a number of universities.
One aim of the study is to discover how much students know about nutrition and health and to see if there is a link between poor knowledge and Metabolic Syndrome and obesity.
After the data is compiled she hopes that the universities surveyed will develop a compulsory course on nutrition and health. “Such course would develop awareness about health and food,” she says.
As lifestyles change so does people’s food choice.
“The healthier your employees or students are, the better they produce,” says Dr Karavetian. “Vending machines should be a long-term investment. The more you know about food the better you live.”
aalhameli@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
MANDOOB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Mountain%20Boy
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The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
