Health promotion and healthy eating habits. Exploratory study in primary education

Abstract

This paper focuses on the importance of health education in Primary Education and the role of schools in the acquisition of healthy habits, especially in nutrition. The aim of this study is to provide an approximation of what students in the 6th year of Primary Education (11-12 years old) understand by healthy habits related to nutrition. A questionnaire of six openended questions was carried out, with a total sample of 78 children. It should be noted that a large sample confuses healthy eating with good health. We therefore consider the need to favour greater health education in school classrooms, as this would help them to differentiate balanced diets from those that are not and, therefore, to prepare healthy menus appropriately.