The Ministry of Health has released new directives for healthy and nutritious eating in educational institutions, such as gans (nurseries), tzaharons (afternoon day care centers) and other educational centers in which food is supplied to the children by the school.
The new directives prohibit foods that are not considered healthy, such as ketchup, sugar, salt, and the use of soup mixes in foods. Their dietitians have put together a list of allowed foods that include a lot of vegetables and are all low in sodium and low in fats. Cereals would all be from whole grains. Soups would not be allowed to be made from soup mixes, no pickles and no salt shakers allowed. Ketchup would be allowed once a week at the beginning, but from 2016 it will not be allowed at all. Only water can be served as a drink and no sugary drinks. No sugar in food, and no sugar replacements such as honey or silan. Food should be cooked by steaming, baking or roasting, but no frying. Only lean cuts of meat or skinless chicken. And there are some more details.
Also, food sold on premises should also be healthy - no unhealthy snacks...
It is great to go healthy. Thankfully Israel does not have a problem with obesity like the problem that exists in the USA. A program like this seems to be a good way to educate the children to eat healthy. I do think, though, that it is a bit much. Maybe they can implement some of it, or give a bunch of options and make the schools or classes keep to 60% or 75% of the list. How many kids are going to want to eat steamed vegetables without even salt, or anything similar? Give them a little bit of variety. I don't think it is so bad that all sugar and all salt and all fat must be cut out.
I also wonder where the budget for this will come from. Eating healthier generally costs more money. Will the Ministry of Education fund this? The Ministry of Health? A different ministry? The schools? the parents?
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
