SCHOOL MEALS EVALUATION – OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AND OBESITY THROUGH LOCAL ACTION
SCHOOL MEALS EVALUATION – OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AND OBESITY THROUGH LOCAL ACTION

Summary/Abstract: Food is crucial to the health, development and wellbeing of children. As stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: “Children are entitled to receive adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, and to have a knowledge of nutrition”. In the last few years, several important documents re lated to nutrition have been adopted in Macedonia, including Food based dietary guidelines, and standards for nutrition in kindergartens and in primary schools. Data from anthropometric measurements of children shows increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, and data from menus provided by some of the kindergartens and schools in the country show that macronutrients are in good relative balance but there is a still higher than recommended intake of saturated fats and sugars. Through the data presented, the paper argues that evaluation of meals served to children is needed in order to assess the adherence to nutrition legislation by schools and kindergartens, and to make necessary adjustments to meals. If assessment is performed for wider number of nutrients, it might also provide policy recommendations for improvement of legislation.

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