In a country where the Mediterranean diet has gained UNESCO's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' recognition, seven out of ten Portuguese children consume insufficient quantities of fruit, defined as being below the three daily servings recommended by the World Health Organisation.
The Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity has sampled 18,000 school children between two and twelve-years-old with results showing that 83.6% of children in the Açores eat below their recommended daily intake, compared to 73.6% in the Algarve.
Wealthier areas such as Lisbon and the Tagus Valley showed that only 72.4% ate less than the recommended amount, still well below the amount needed in a balanced diet.
The Association said that the consumption of fruit below the 'three portions a day' minimum causes nutritional deficiencies leading to decreased energy levels, poor concentration, poor learning results, a reduction in the body’s natural defences and makes children more susceptible to obesity and diabetes.
Since 2011, the Association has been promoting an initiative in schools which aims to combat malnutrition by providing free educational and nutritional information.
Once registered, schoolchildren compete in a fruit merit table system, with rewards. Motivation is increased through a national competition that uses music as a vehicle to take lessons learned in school back home to engage parents.
For those in the schools project, only one in four children increased their daily consumption of fruit over the 12 weeks course but without government aid to make the project a national one, the Association carries on alone to improve fruit consumption and children’s health.
Further help is at hand with a new ‘Fruits of Portugal map which will be available to primary schools to teach children the main fruit producing areas in the country and the importance of eating loots of it.
The new presented was put together by the Army Geospatial Information Unit, the Compal Frutology Centre and the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development.
The map shows fruits that carry a Protected Designation of Origin and have Protected Geographical Indications.
