Preschool afternoon frameworks to provide healthy food, teach healthy habits
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman have signed regulations that will require the provision of nutritious food in afternoon programs of the nurseries and kindergartens. They will go into effect in the new academic year.
Litzman said that the afternoon educational framework “is the most appropriate for instilling good nutritional habits in children. We intend to enforce the regulations strictly.” He thanked Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria for her efforts to promote the new arrangements.
Kahlon said, “Our children are the most important thing in the world for us, and their ages in these frameworks are the best time to provide them with classes on healthy eating habits for the rest of their lives. They will get good food, and parents will pay much less than in past years.”
The children will also learn about hygiene, washing hands, drinking water, setting a table and making salads.
The regulations state what food is forbidden and what is permissible according to their health benefits. They also require the authorized food supplier to provide food for children with special dietary needs.
The ministries noted that good eating habits influence normal growth and continuous physical and intellectual development and help prevent health problems and nutritional deficiencies such as inadequate amounts of iron and calcium, as well as obesity and eating disorders. Observing them will also reduce dental cavities.
The children will be served as much natural food as possible that is rich in fiber, and low in saturated fat, sugar and salt. They will include vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, and, from the age of five, nuts.