Food and nutrition education in the school context: the example of the 'EDALNU' food and nutrition programme

Over the course of the 20th century, the transformation of Spanish food and nutrition was consolidated. In the pre-transitional phase, in the 1950s, a renewed interest arose in the deficiencies presented by the diet given to children and in order to overcome these, an educational approach to food and nutrition was introduced. The aim of the present study was to analyse the actions implemented in schools as part of the 'EDALNU' Food and Nutrition Education Programme launched in 1961. An analysis of the documentation shows that the 'EDALNU' programme constituted the most organised and interdisciplinary food and nutrition education intervention carried out in Spain in the 20th century. This food education initiative, targeted at the school population, was crucial in ensuring an adequate diet and served to rectify certain problems. It was however insufficient to halt the growing epidemic of obesity. Be that as it may, and in spite of its limitations, the integrated approach of the 'EDALNU' programme, in which the school, the social context and the family were all addressed in concert, serves as an example for present day strategies in food and nutrition education.