Ana Isabel Rito1,2, Ana Dinis3, Carla Rascôa3, António Maia3, Inês de Carvalho Martins4, Mariana Santos5,6, João Lima3, Sofia Mendes4, Joana Padrão4, Camila Stein-Novais3. 1. Department of Food and Nutrition, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA, IP), Av Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal. ana.i.rito@gmail.com. 2. Center for Studies and Research In Social Dynamics and Health (CEIDSS), Fabrica da Pólvora de Barcarena, 2730-036, Oeiras, Portugal. ana.i.rito@gmail.com. 3. Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (ARSLVT), Av. Estados Unidos da América, No 77, Piso 8, 1749-096, Lisboa, Portugal. 4. Center for Studies and Research In Social Dynamics and Health (CEIDSS), Fabrica da Pólvora de Barcarena, 2730-036, Oeiras, Portugal. 5. Department of Food and Nutrition, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA, IP), Av Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal. 6. National School of Public Health, Av. Padre Cruz, 1600-560, Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) breakfasts have been increasing in Portugal, among children. Eat Mediterranean (EM), a Portuguese comprehensive community-based intervention, proposed to improve breakfast patterns of children and adolescents and to evaluate the healthiness of RTEC according to WHO/Europe nutrient profile model (Euro-NP). SUBJECTS/ METHODS: EM Program was developed during two scholar years (15/16 and 16/17) toward 2333 students (pre to secondary education). Data on breakfast was provided using a family record form. The intervention consisted of 257 educational sessions addressing the principles of Mediterranean Diet, and promoting a "healthy breakfast at home". To check for compliance with Euro-NP, RTEC package food labels' nutritional composition was used. RESULTS: After intervention 92.9% of children/adolescents had breakfast daily with no report of breakfast skippers. RTECs were one of the most frequent (66.5%) breakfasts. Statistically significant improvements were showed for: daily qualitative and complete breakfast frequency (5.6%) and fruit (11.2%). Consumption of RTEC decreased 28%. According to Euro-NP, 84.6% of the RTECs were non-compliant, regarding sugar content. Children's RTECs presented 5% more of energy and 26% more sugar than the "non-children's" RTECs. CONCLUSION: EM strategy showed to be a successful program to improve patterns and quality of breakfast of the children and adolescents, reinforcing the importance of school-based nutritional programs in changing lifestyles. Nutrient profiling can be a useful tool to provide a selection of foods to be part of a healthy diet and can be used by policy-makers to design policies to identify the foods to which marketing restrictions to children, will apply.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) breakfasts have been increasing in Portugal, among children. Eat Mediterranean (EM), a Portuguese comprehensive community-based intervention, proposed to improve breakfast patterns of children and adolescents and to evaluate the healthiness of RTEC according to WHO/Europe nutrient profile model (Euro-NP). SUBJECTS/ METHODS: EM Program was developed during two scholar years (15/16 and 16/17) toward 2333 students (pre to secondary education). Data on breakfast was provided using a family record form. The intervention consisted of 257 educational sessions addressing the principles of Mediterranean Diet, and promoting a "healthy breakfast at home". To check for compliance with Euro-NP, RTEC package food labels' nutritional composition was used. RESULTS: After intervention 92.9% of children/adolescents had breakfast daily with no report of breakfast skippers. RTECs were one of the most frequent (66.5%) breakfasts. Statistically significant improvements were showed for: daily qualitative and complete breakfast frequency (5.6%) and fruit (11.2%). Consumption of RTEC decreased 28%. According to Euro-NP, 84.6% of the RTECs were non-compliant, regarding sugar content. Children's RTECs presented 5% more of energy and 26% more sugar than the "non-children's" RTECs. CONCLUSION: EM strategy showed to be a successful program to improve patterns and quality of breakfast of the children and adolescents, reinforcing the importance of school-based nutritional programs in changing lifestyles. Nutrient profiling can be a useful tool to provide a selection of foods to be part of a healthy diet and can be used by policy-makers to design policies to identify the foods to which marketing restrictions to children, will apply.
Authors: Luisma Sanchez-Siles; Sergio Román; Juan F Haro-Vicente; Maria Jose Bernal; Michelle Klerks; Gaspar Ros; Ángel Gil Journal: Front Nutr Date: 2022-05-13
Authors: Luis Manuel Sanchez-Siles; Maria Jose Bernal; David Gil; Stefan Bodenstab; Juan Francisco Haro-Vicente; Michelle Klerks; Julio Plaza-Diaz; Ángel Gil Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-06-24 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Ana Isabel Rito; Sofia Mendes; Mariana Santos; Francisco Goiana-da-Silva; Francesco Paolo Cappuccio; Stephen Whiting; Ana Dinis; Carla Rascôa; Isabel Castanheira; Ara Darzi; João Breda Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-07-24 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Ada L Garcia; José D Ronquillo; Gabriela Morillo-Santander; Claudia V Mazariegos; Lorena Lopez-Donado; Elisa J Vargas-Garcia; Louise Curtin; Alison Parrett; Antonina N Mutoro Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-03-23 Impact factor: 5.717