What should a menu have to be healthy for children?

 Does a menu have to be healthy for children?

Today we will talk about a menu that has to be healthy for children? One of the great current food evils both in advanced societies and in the poorest regions of the world is the abuse of consumption of ultra-processed foods.

In the future, it is more than likely that there will be more people suffering from chronic diseases associated with its consumption and also that premature death will increase as a result of this type of diet. Therefore, it is essential to rethink eating habits from an early age.

a menu have to be healthy for children

Childhood obesity and its relationship with the ultra-processed

The UN, through its report What trade and industry authorities of the United Nations Development Program need to know, points out that “trade liberalization in certain contexts has increased the availability of ultra-processed foods with a high content of sugar and fats and of low nutritional value ”.

Why has your consumption increased? Among other reasons, because they are easier to acquire, transport, prepare and are cheaper than other types of fresh food. Ultra-processed products keep for a long time and are made so that you need to consume them. They seem really addictive.

In recent years, an increase in overweight and obesity has been observed in young children, which, in part, could be associated with the consumption of this type of product. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of children under 5 years of age suffer from obesity. If measures are not taken, this Organization assures in one of its latest studies that in 2022 there will be more children and adolescents with obesity than with moderate or severe underweight.

In Spain, 43% of children between 6 and 9 years old are overweight or obese, according to the Aladino study, carried out by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition of the Ministry of Health.

Healthy menu for children 1 -3 years old

To prevent these figures from continuing to grow, it is essential for the growth and development of a child to establish a healthy menu for each age and appropriate eating habits that will mark them during adulthood. In the White Book of Nutrition in Spain of the AEPED (Spanish Association of Pediatrics), the basic consumption recommendations that can be modified according to the individual needs of each child would be:

• Milk and/or dairy: twice a day.
• Vegetables and/or vegetables: in two servings a day, that is, it can be lunch and dinner. At this age, it is understood that children begin chewing for what can be given as tomato salad, salad, etc., or in other forms as we say that is easy to chew.
• Fish, and more specifically, we must emphasize the white: 3-4 times a week. Its intake will provide you with long-chain fatty acids that will help prevent chronic diseases.
• Sweets and derivatives: you should consume them sporadically (at most once a week).

It is necessary to remember that you should start the day with a good breakfast and complement each meal correctly at home or with the school menu.

Healthy menu for preschool (4 - 6 years) and school (7 - 10 years) children

As we have said, when children do not meet their basic dietary needs and have an incorrect intake of nutrients according to their age, they can suffer from problems that will severely impact their health, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or hypertension, among others.

One of the things of greatest concern according to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics is that " the contribution of calcium and vitamin D, which is vital to achieving adequate bone mass, has been found to be lower than recommended in 77% and 100% of Spanish children, which can pose a risk to their growth and long-term bone health ”. They point out another food threat the decrease in the consumption of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish ...

In fact, in the ANIBES study of the Spanish Nutrition Foundation, it is estimated that the lowest levels of the average consumption of vegetables, vegetables, and fruits are found in children with an average of 241 g / person/day. In the ENALIA survey (National Survey of Food in the Child and Adolescent Population), it is also pointed out that the second population group that consumes the least fruit is that of children with 148.7 g / person/day.

The study also affects the increase in the consumption of meats and derivatives, saturated fatty acids, and foods with high energy density or salt, and this can cause dietary imbalances which makes them consume less fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, folates, vitamin D, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, so necessary for these ages.

Improve healthy eating habits in children

Childhood obesity is a pending issue for everyone: parents and the educational community. In fact, school canteens should also play an essential role in the adoption of proper eating habits both in the preparation and in the provision of food to the little ones.

In the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) there may be a section that reaffirms the dedication to prevent all sorts of obese in youngsters under 5 years of age, “it urges all price range, programs, relevant specialised organizations of the United Nations, civil society and different involved parties to collaborate in one-of-a-kind sectors and instances to guide, guide and implement dietary policies, programs, and plans and to aid mechanisms that permit tracking of commitments and providing reports in this regard ”.

One of the things that should be monitored more is food advertising. In fact, the big manufacturers of ultra-processed foods have realized the importance of making advertisements aimed at children who are the consumers of the future, which is truly dangerous. In our country, the PAOS Code is applied as a code for the co-regulation of food and beverage advertising directed at minors.

The authorities in charge of public health policies should also make efforts to develop actions aimed at promoting incentives to reduce the number of ultra-processed products on the market, for example, with a possible special tax or greater control in establishments that supplied.

It is time to take action and rethink the mistakes made. For this, greater involvement of society and institutions is necessary to find and establish strategies that improve the eating habits and lifestyle of children.

From Ayuda en Acción we have launched an innovative project to prevent childhood obesity in schools. We also carry out actions framed in the Here too program on equal opportunities in Spain with a section for healthy living conditions with special courses such as summer gastronomic camps with training for social inclusion and healthy eating.