A small box with healthy food for children | Reply …

"Today & # 39; hui, the food is more ready to sell than to eat. The industry sells food because it puts sugar in the first place, then fat and salt. It's a great mix that's found in all the things we eat. If the state does not legislate in this respect, we are liquidated, warns Dr. Jorge Tartaglione, president of the Argentina Cardiological Foundation. From this diagnosis, specialist supports changes in communication and menu for boys McDonald's sets up in Argentina. This is the inclusion in the Happy Box of fruits and vegetables and the elimination of soft drinks in the menu communication.

"The idea is that each Cajita Feliz option contains less than 600 calories a 14% decrease in calories from saturated fats, compared to 20% from total fat, 78% of calories from added sugars and a reduction in the amount of sodium, " explains Natalia Archimede, general manager of Arcos Dorados menu innovation.

Tartaglione explains that "Childhood obesity is a global epidemic that is of concern to all countries.. In Argentina, one in ten children under five are obese and three in ten are overweight. If we do not work together with the state, non-governmental organizations, and industry, we will not make any progress. In McDonald's, they eat 2 million boys a month. Then you have to help the company to adopt the changes"

Natalia Archimede stated in this regard that "We develop nutritional guidelines in collaboration with health professionals and on the basis of food standards from the World Health Organization.. This involves defining the maximum amount of calories that a child should consume in the day, taking into account that a lunch or dinner equals one-third of the daily diet.

The company has established that Each menu for boys and girls incorporates a series of changes that improve the nutritional quality of foods.. "For some time now, cherry tomatoes have been included as an accompaniment option, in addition to roasted potatoes and the elimination of soft drinks from communication, that is, when the father or the mother enter the premises, they do not see anywhere else Cajita Feliz is the opportunity to order a soda with the menu. We also add yogurt to the menu and messages to promote reading and healthy habits such as physical activity, "said Archimedes.

"Now we have taken another step and defined that each combination of boys' menus must contain less than 600 calories. In addition, not more than 30% of the calories may come from total fat, 10% of saturated fat and not more than 10% of added sugar. This implies a 20% reduction in total fat, 20% sodium and 70% added fat. To get, we incorporate a new 100% natural fruit juice, no additives, no preservatives and no added sugar, as well as a new dessert made of applesauce, also composed only of fresh fruitAdded Archimedes. August 8 is the launch in more than 220 stores in Argentina.