The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) and the Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Sciences (Sedca), presented yesterday, coinciding with the beginning of the services of school canteens in almost all schools, the “White Paper of School Feeding”, where The unbalanced diet provided to children by school canteens is portrayed.
If we recently published a study conducted by the FROM in which they revealed that the consumption of fish in school canteens was low, now other healthy foods are added to this deficiency, legumes, vegetables and fruits. However, meat consumption is higher than recommended.
More and more places are being requested in school canteens and it must be taken into account that food is 35% of the daily intake of children, an important part, so the nutrients that the menu. It seems that what prevails in school canteens is the taste of children, they should think that while they eat ... The president of Sedca reported on a survey conducted in 33 Spanish schools during the 2005-2006 academic year, and the conclusion is that they offer a excess fat and protein and a low intake of carbohydrates. This may have changed, even slightly, in some schools, since last year there were also many initiatives and promotions for better food in schools. Hopefully so and complete your improvement now.
But another thing is certain, it is of little use that the menus that are served in the school canteens are well structured if there is no necessary staff to watch over the children in the dining room, that is, to check that once they have been served the food, with more or less effort, the little ones eat it. It is part of education.
Another issue to highlight are also the special diets that some schoolchildren need, whether due to allergies, illness or religious causes. It is difficult to understand, but according to the study's conclusions, catering companies or those responsible for providing school menus do not have the training or qualified personnel to attend and cover adequate food in cases of diabetes, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, to eggs, etc.
We are very funny what the secretary general of the AEP, Isabel Polanco says: "Reading a diet book or copying a menu does not guarantee proper preparation and, therefore, proper monitoring of the diet or the absence of danger" We also put our hands on the fire that this happens in thousands of schools, restaurants and even in some health centers.
We also support these words: "to promote a program of nutritional education in the school. The school canteen should not be a restaurant dedicated to distributing food, but rather an instrument of health education and where hygienic, urban and social habits can also be acquired. ".
