Algarve schools see healthy snacking rise sharply, study finds

A monitoring report on the Heróis da Fruta programme found that daily healthy snacking among Algarve schoolchildren rose from 66.3% to 85.3% over five weeks in the 2024/2025 school year, slightly above the national average. Daily fruit or vegetable consumption also increased, though less than nationally, while full compliance with each class's chosen challenge slightly declined. The study, by ISAMB/FMUL and APCOI, covered 26 classes and 543 children across nine Algarve municipalities. Results vary widely by municipality and some are based on very small samples, limiting broader conclusions.