Junk food in kindergartens is set to be a thing of the past, as sugary drinks, cookies and fried foods will no longer be allowed.
The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) is set to remove sugary and fatty foods from 1,376 of its kindergartens in Mexico in an effort to tackle the country’s growing obesity crisis.
IMSS spokesperson Juan Lozano Tovar described the new menu as “revolutionary,” as it “completely eliminates added sugars and processed foods.” The representative added that the program was part of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in Mexico. The idea, he said, is that children become advocates for a healthy diet in their homes.
“They will come home and their taste buds will be used to healthy foods. Most likely, they will remind their moms at home that it is important to include these foods over those that trigger weight gain and diseases”
The initiative was based on scientific research establishing that obesity in children under four years old is is very likely to prevail in later stages of their life.