Food and nutrition education; elaboration of a guide for children of 6 to 12 years

A qualitative description of the food situation for 2196 Algerian healthy school childrenaged 6 to 12 years (Constantine, Jijel, Touggourt) by a qualitative meta-analysis. Our aim is to compare the observed and recommended diet (2001) to correct some food errors (quantity, quality, behaviour) with recommendations for nutrition education as a guide for children to prevent communicable diseases related to diet; in Algeria this type of study is rare due to lack of work on this age and because of lack of access to previous studies. The results obtained are: the decline of daily caloric intake, an unbalanced distribution of macro and micronutrients, a high intake of starch products, an average consumption of vegetables, fruit and fish rich in antioxidants biomolecules, breakfast is neglected, the morning snack and snack time food are formed by foods of high energy density, the snacking food type ‘junk food’ practiced the whole time watching television and a decrease in the practice of regular physical activity.