Improving the food environment in kindergartens and schools: An overview of policies and policy opportunities in Europe

Kovács, Viktória; Messing, Sven; Sandu, Petru; Nardone, Paola; Pizzi, Elisabetta; Hassapidou, Maria; Brukało, Katarzyna; Tecklenburg, Ernestine; Abu‐Omar, Karim

doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101848

Cited by 23 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…While both ministries are quite important in ensuring a healthy school food environment, the involvement of other actors and stakeholders, specifically the department of agriculture, food industry, municipalities, and media, should be considered as an important factor to improve their effectiveness. In a review of the European policies related to the food environment in kindergartens and schools, Kovacs et al have emphasized the importance of integrated parallel policies and the involvement of all relevant sectors and stakeholders in the success and effectiveness of these policies [ 70 ]. Long collaboration between the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the school meal program in the U.S. [ 71 ] is an example of the importance of the involvement of other sectors besides the health and education sectors in improving students’ dietary intake through increasing the availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and decreasing the total calories, sodium, and trans fat contents of the meals [ 72 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thirdly, one of the factors that affects students’ dietary patterns is the availability of unhealthy snacks in the area surrounding schools [ 70 ]. No evidence was found for food environment policies in the areas surrounding kindergartens and schools in Iran.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A limited number of countries have considered this issue. For example, in Romania, there is restrictive legislation regarding the sale of food items within a radius of 100-meters of schools [ 70 ]. Previous studies have shown that the local food retails around schools may act as a compensatory alternative, may negatively influence children’s food choices, and have linked childhood obesity to fast food restaurant closeness to schools [ 80 , 81 , 82 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have shown that the local food retails around schools may act as a compensatory alternative, may negatively influence children’s food choices, and have linked childhood obesity to fast food restaurant closeness to schools [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. In addition, banning the sale of soft drinks at school could lead to an increased intake outside the school [ 70 ]. While the provision of healthy foods in schools may be the first priority, the adoption of laws to control the environment around schools can help to support children’s health and dietary intake.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifthly, the centralized and top-down approach of the existing health programs in Iran can be considered a good opportunity in formulating and implementing national standards and public policies to promote a healthy food environment [ 70 ]; however, it can hinder the possibility of local modification(s) of food environment policies based on local food preferences and availability. In the case of HPS, the top-down approach led to the resistance of schools to accept the program.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enabling Food Environment in Kindergartens and Schools in Iran for Promoting Healthy Diet: Is It on the Right Track?

Omidvar

Babashahi

Abdollahi

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Enabling policies related to kindergarten and school food environments can be effective approaches in preventing childhood obesity. This study investigated policies and/or programs with direct or indirect effects on the food environment in kindergartens and schools in Iran. In this scoping review, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science, as well as Iranian scientific search engines, including Scientific Information Database and Magiran from January 1990 to October 2020, to identify literature on policies/programs affecting the food environment in kindergartens and schools in Iran. A total of 30 studies and policy documents were included in this review relevant to eight policies/programs. These programs have helped to control food availability in schools, increase nutritional awareness, positively influence physical function and school performances, and reduce malnutrition in rural kindergartens. However, improving the food environment in schools and kindergartens requires proper revisions and local adaptation of many of these policies, strengthening of cross-sectoral collaborations, provision of necessary financial and human resources, and ensuring regular monitoring and evaluation. Reflecting on Iran’s health policies and interventions provides insight into the progress achieved and challenges faced. Lessons can benefit the country itself, as well as other countries with similar contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Enabling Food Environment in Kindergartens and Schools in Iran for Promoting Healthy Diet: Is It on the Right Track?

Omidvar

Babashahi

Abdollahi

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Effect of antioxidant-rich kindergarten meals on oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy 5–6-year-old children: a randomized controlled trial

Berlic,

Korošec,

Remec

et al. 2024

Eur J Pediatr

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As children spend up to 9 h a day in kindergarten, the main purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of antioxidant-rich kindergarten meals on oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs) in healthy children. In the randomized control trial with a follow-up, healthy 5–6-year-old children from six kindergartens were randomly divided into a prototype group (PG, n = 40) and a control group (CG, n = 17). PG followed a 2-week antioxidant-rich kindergarten meal plan (breakfast, lunch, and two snacks), and CG followed their standard kindergarten meal plans. Outside the kindergartens, participants ate as usual. We used a consecutive 7-day dietary record inside and outside the kindergarten and the national dietary assessment tool OPEN to assess the total dietary antioxidant capacity (dTAC) of the consumed foods. Malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and four F2-isoprostane were measured in fasting urine on days 1 and 15. We also measured total antioxidant power (PAT) and hydroperoxides (d-ROMs) in fasting serum on day 15 and obtained the value of the oxidative stress index (OSI). We used a Welch two-sample t-test and multiple regression analysis to compare the prototype and control groups and a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank exact test to compare pre- and post-intervention results in urine. Antioxidant-rich kindergarten meals contributed to a significantly (p < 0.05) higher intake of dTAC in PG participants compared to standard meals in CG participants (8.6 vs. 2.8 mmol/day). We detected a negative correlation between dTAC intake and d-ROMs and between dTAC intake and OSI (r = − 0.29, p = 0.043 and r = − 0.31, p = 0.032, respectively). A significant decrease in urinary 8-iso-15-prostaglandin-F-2 alpha was detected in PG participants between days 1 and 15; however, no other intra-individual significant differences in urinary OSBs were found. Conclusion: Antioxidant-rich food in kindergarten is warranted due to its potential health-protective effect. Additionally, we present original data on the average levels of urinary and serum OSBs in healthy 5–6-year-old children. Trial registration: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, on February 5, 2020 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04252105). What is Known:• Kindergartens are recognized as promising environments for public health measures.• A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce OSBs and, consequently, the risk of developing NCDs. What is New:• Antioxidant-rich kindergarten diet can ensure a protective intake of dTAC in children.• Original data on serum oxidative stress biomarkers (d-ROMs, PAT, and OSI) and urinary oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, 8-OHdG, and F2 isoprostanes) in healthy 5–6-year-old children.

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Assessment of the diet-environment-health-cost quadrilemma in public school canteens. an LCA case study in Galicia (Spain)

Fernández

Rodríguez

Neira

2022

Environ Dev Sustain

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The role of policies and public school canteens as drivers of sustainable and healthy diets is increasingly becoming the center of attention of academics and policy-makers alike. This work therefore aims to assess the environmental, economic and nutritional quality dimensions of the menus consumed across the Local Network of School Canteens in the municipality of Ames (Galicia, Spain). It additionally performs different scenarios to evaluate the effects on the environment-cost-nutritional quality trilemma of implementing two major dietary changes in these menus: introducing more organic products, and shifting toward a more plant-based consumption pattern. To this end, this study considers the following indicators: a) those obtained from an energy and carbon life cycle assessment of the school menus (cradle-to-grave approach), mainly the cumulative energy demand (CED) and the carbon footprint (CF), complemented by some energy efficiency indicators; b) the total cost (TC) of the menus, obtained from their life cycle cost assessment (cradle-to-fork approach); and c) the nutritional quality of the menus, calculated and assessed based on the nutrient rich diet index (NRD 9.3). The CED, CF, TC, and NRD 9.3 index of a daily meal at school canteens are, respectively, estimated at 18.87 MJ, 1.30 kg CO2-eq, EUR 4.65, and 278 per meal. The consumption of animal products and labor (for food preparation) are identified, respectively, as the main environmental impact and economic cost of the menus. The results of our research show how implementing changes in consumption habits toward a more vegetarian diet in school menus makes it possible to include organic products to generate the most positive effects in terms of the environment and nutrition without incurring in cost overruns. Our work discusses the main barriers to be overcome and the political actions that must be enforced to advance the procurement of more sustainable and healthy public food. Graphical abstract

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Improving the food environment in kindergartens and schools: An overview of policies and policy opportunities in Europe

Cited by 23 publications

References 27 publications

Enabling Food Environment in Kindergartens and Schools in Iran for Promoting Healthy Diet: Is It on the Right Track?

Enabling Food Environment in Kindergartens and Schools in Iran for Promoting Healthy Diet: Is It on the Right Track?

Effect of antioxidant-rich kindergarten meals on oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy 5–6-year-old children: a randomized controlled trial

Assessment of the diet-environment-health-cost quadrilemma in public school canteens. an LCA case study in Galicia (Spain)

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