Healthy diet in Kfar Quasem schools

Introduction: Kfar Quasem was proclaimed a town in 2008 and is graded 3 on a ten socio-economic scale. In Kfar Quasem there are 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools with cc. 4600 students. Dental health is not good in Kfar Quasem: dmft=4.95 among 5years-old with only 18% caries free. High sugar diet is the main cause of high caries levels among children. The 24 kiosks in the schools are a source for high-carbohydrate food and drinks that cause serious ill-health to the children. Objective: Creating a health promoting diet environment in the schools: Eradicating 100% of cariogenic food and snacks from the school kiosks and 100% of children will bring healthy food to schools. Material and Methods: Creating a healthy public policy in town by partnership of the Mayor, community participation (Parents' committee), School Principals and kiosk owners. Monitoring the food and drink brought by children to schools and sold in the kiosk and substituting harmful food with healthy alternative. Results: 19 kindergartens (cc. 600 children) have stopped to bring food from home and prepare healthy food on the premises. 3 schools (2153 children) – 100% food brought from home healthy (non-cariogenic). In one secondary school 100% changed to healthy food, in the other 80% (findings in weekly surveys). 20 out of the 24 kiosks (83%) adopted fully the healthy policy. In 2 primary schools (582 students) no success in adoption of the program (0%). Conclusions: Oral health promotion program can bring a revolution in the childrens diet of the town by creating effective tools by cooperation with the community and municipality.