What is KIDMED?
KIDMED (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents) is a practical, 16-item screening tool that measures how well a child’s or adolescent’s eating pattern fits the Mediterranean diet. Each item is a simple yes/no question — for example, “Do they eat fruit or fruit juice every day?” or “Do they regularly eat fast food?”.
The index assesses not individual nutrients but the overall pattern of habits. In that respect, it is useful for quickly capturing a snapshot of a child’s diet quality and making areas for improvement visible.
How is it scored?
In KIDMED, the questions cover favourable habits aligned with the Mediterranean diet (such as eating fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil and grains) and unfavourable habits that are not aligned (such as fast food, sugary snacks and skipping breakfast). Favourable items raise the score; unfavourable items lower it. The total score classifies a child’s diet as low, medium or high adherence.
The purpose of the score is not to “give a grade” but to guide: it shows which habits are strong and which need support. This lets families focus on concrete, small steps (for example, making breakfast regular, or increasing daily vegetables and fruit).
Why is it useful?
KIDMED’s greatest value is its practicality: it can be applied in a few minutes and gives a holistic picture of a child’s eating pattern. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with better growth, healthy weight development and general health indicators in children, so tracking adherence is meaningful.
KIDMED does not diagnose; it is a screening and awareness tool. The results are used to guide the family toward small, sustainable changes. If there is a nutritional concern or the score is low, an assessment with a health professional (dietitian/paediatrician) is recommended.
Turning the score into concrete steps
KIDMED’s real value lies not in an abstract score but in the actionable cues it offers. The items that drag the score down usually point to a few common habits: skipping breakfast, too little daily fruit and vegetables, frequent fast food and sugary snacks, and low consumption of fish and pulses. Each of these is a concrete target the family can work on; addressing them one or two at a time, rather than all at once, is more sustainable.
For example, even two small changes — such as “breakfast every morning” and “one portion of fruit a day” — can noticeably improve the score and diet quality. The most effective way is to present the changes as family habits, without pressuring the child. KIDMED can be repeated a few months later to see progress. If the score stays low or there is a clear concern about nutrition, it is sensible to seek support from a dietitian or paediatrician.