General recommendations

At school it is a good time to create habits in relation to social issues: food, behavior, ... At this stage, as in all, a positive environment should be established to eat and try that the child shows a positive attitude towards healthy eating habits. The best example of what to do at the table and what to eat are their parents. The child will imitate adults.

Try to have an organized schedule that includes a good breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. The child has a lot of wear and tear during the day; If meals are organized in a reasonable way during the day, the nutrients and calories necessary to cope with the child's daily activity are guaranteed.

Very many children go to nursery schools or nurseries before the age of three. When compulsory schooling begins, there are also many who stay in the school cafeteria. It is important to know, in advance, the menu that is offered to children to be able to make balanced and complementary dinners to what has been eaten at noon.

During this stage the child manifests his preferences in food. It is important to offer a varied and rich diet that allows the child to experiment with different flavors and textures. The attractive presentation of foods can also play an important role in their acceptance. In many cases the rejection of a food is inevitable and, in others, it is due to the imitation of what the child sees in their closest relatives (parents who do not eat fruit or vegetables daily will cost their children to like it).

The child must be involved in the preparation of the food and can help, depending on the age, in the preparation of simple dishes. This can help better acceptance of food.

Food is a social event and you should eat and dine as a family whenever possible. At school, children eat together and at home too. This is a good time to turn off the television and discuss how the day has gone. Creating a positive eating environment, from the affective point of view, is as important as providing an adequate amount of nutrients.

It is not good practice to reward or punish with food.

The typical overeating of developed countries is not healthy since it is related to diseases in adulthood: obesity, tooth decay or cardiovascular problems.

The habits that are acquired at this age are of vital importance for the future since they can prevent diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol or hypertension:

• Make four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
• Do not snack between meals.
• The main drink will be water.
• Do not abuse sweetened drinks or snacks.
• Moderate the use of salt.
• Limit industrial bakery.
• Limit fast food.
• Make a good breakfast: dairy, fruit and cereal.
• Do not eat food in front of the television.
• Varied diet rich in vegetables, fruit and legumes.
• Educate knowing how to be at the table.
• Limit the consumption of meats, eggs, margarines and sausages and increase the contribution of cereals, fish and virgin olive oil.