110 Schools in Mexico City ordered to start urban gardens

The 110 Mexico City public schools participating in the SaludArte program to fight obesity and promote healthy eating must start urban gardens, the head of the capital’s government, Miguel Angel Mancera, said.

Mancera made the announcement Wednesday during Cocinando, an event at city hall aimed at fighting childhood obesity, telling participants that the goal was to have SaludArte expand its role in providing proper nutrition to children.

“It seems like something small, but this is something really important,” Mancera said in a statement.

The idea is to get children involved in growing fruits and vegetables, the Mexico City mayor said.

More than 20,000 children are participating in SaludArte, which has provided them with 1.7 million healthy, nutritionally balanced hot meals since 2013, Mancera said.

Chefs Enrique Olvera and Arturo Fernandez joined the mayor and several children in preparing healthy dishes at the event. EFE