Food safety and health guide.

This Food safety and health guide is a nationwide sectoral document issued by the Ministry of Education to preserve students' health with the aim of (i) educating the student about the type and quantity of meals to eat; (ii) knowing the needs of the daily rations of the different food groups; (iii) making the most of basic foods rich in nutrients beneficial to the body such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fibers; (iv) avoiding fast food, soft drinks, and foods rich in salt, sugar and saturated fats; and (v) modifying dietary behavior.
The guide, in addition to listing the benefits and motivations of a healthy diet in schools (also indicating the calories needed according to school age), also deals, among others, with the following topics (i) steps to apply healthy feeding in school; (ii) the following nutrition guidelines (a) eating a variety of foods; (b) washing hands, and clean eating utensils and places; (c) washing fruits and vegetables well before eating; (d) balancing the calories consumed and those burned by the body through physical activity; (e) eating foods rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, such as brown rice, brown bread, bulgur, low-fat milk and its derivatives of cheese and low-fat dairy; (f) choosing low-fat foods; (g) choosing foods that contain a moderate percentage of sugars, salt, and sodium; (iii) nutritional standards that must be met in school meals, such as daily energy needs, calories, trans fats and hydrogenated free, sodium amount, content of food items with high nutritional value; (iv) principles of healthy school feeding, i.e. the nutrition guidelines of the State of Qatar and the obligation to provide meals based on determined nutritional value; (v) recommendations for meals brought from home, including suggestions for a healthy and safe lunch bag; (vi) food safety guidelines in activities and events organized in schools; (vii) food safety assurance requirements; (viii) school management procedures to ensure food safety; (ix) food health and safety requirements, concerning, among others, canteen and dining room facilities, safety and security in the school canteen, food safety and suitability, and nutrition education.