On World Food Day, Portugal’s Ministry of Education released new guidelines for school meals and canteens. The document was prepared by the EDUQA institute together with the Directorate-General of Health.
Ultra-processed meat or fish products such as nuggets and fish fingers will no longer be served, nor will fried savoury snacks such as rissoles and croquettes. Sweet desserts are limited to once a month, fried foods to twice a month and red meat to a maximum of four meals a month.
In return, there should be at least as many fish meals as meat meals, pulses and vegetables every day, fresh fruit for dessert with three varieties to choose from, and water as the only drink. A daily vegetarian option becomes compulsory, and salt must be reduced and iodised.
The guidelines also say meals should last at least 30 minutes, queues should not exceed 10 to 15 minutes, and vegetables should come first on the serving line to encourage healthier choices.
