Activities and some results to increase

the consumption of some F&V in order to

improve vitamin A status in preschool
children

Consuelo Macías Matos PhD
Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene
National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology
La Habana, Cuba

Cuba
Program CUBA‐UNICEF 2014‐2018
Project: Nutritional intervention to improve vitamin A
status in preschool children.
Objetive: To improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables rich
in carotenoids provitamin A.

Focused on five provinces (51 municipalities)

F and V not included for mothers or rejected by children

%
100

90
Grapefruit
80 Parsley

70 Watercress
Carrot
60
Okra
50 Lettuce
Watermelon
40
Spinach
30 Swiss chard
Mamey
20
Pepper
10 Maize
0 Orange
Never
Decrease in consumption of some fruits and vegetables with age.

100

90
% children

80

70

60
Squash
50
Swiss chard
40 Carrot

30

20

10

0
<1 year 1 year 2‐4 years
 HOW WORKS THE PROJECT

GLOBAL THINKING LOCAL ACTION

National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Provincial and municipalities centers of
Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology

5 Provinces Municipalities
Specialists (5) (51)

Nutritionists/Dietitian
Health promoters
Teachers
Urban agriculture specialists
Media
 WHAT DO WE DO?

GLOBAL THINKING LOCAL ACTION

Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene Provinces Municipalities

(5) (51)

Workshops Activities in:

Advises Community

Promotional materials Primary schools

Control visits Kindergarden

 WHAT DO WE DO?
GLOBAL THINKING

Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene

Workshops
 WHAT DO WE DO?
GLOBAL THINKING

Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene

Promotional materials
Suppplying by UNICEF

Vitamin A: Training manual 
for health professionals Fan and leaflet for mothers
 WHAT DO WE DO?

GLOBAL THINKING LOCAL ACTION

Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene Provinces Municipalities

(5) (51)

Workshops Activities in:

Advises
Community
Promotional materials
Control tasks Primary schools
Kindergarden
 WHAT DO WE DO?
LOCAL ACTION

Province: Mayabeque Municipality: Santa Cruz del Norte

In COMMUNITIES

Agromarket
 WHAT DO WE DO?
LOCAL ACTION

Province: Artemisa In PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Municipality: Güira de Melena

If they prepared vegetable 

dishes by themselves, then
they eat it easier.
 WHAT DO WE DO?
LOCAL ACTION
Province: Las Tunas Municipality: Tunas In PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Children does…

…and mothers help.
WHAT DO WE DO?
LOCAL ACTION

Province: Guantánamo
Municipality: Niceto Pérez

In KINDERGARTEN

Attend 19% of   the
children 1‐5 years old
 In Kindergarten

Kindergarten 
have their own
garden where the
children learn
about vegetables 
 In Kindergarten

Teachers created
didactical games

Cookers and food‐workers were

training about healthy eating
In Kindergarten
Activities and some results to increase
the consumption of some F&V in order to
improve vitamin A status in preschool
children

Consuelo Macías Matos PhD
Center of Nutrition and Food Hygiene
National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology
La Habana, Cuba

Cuba