Abstract
BackgroundNutritional deficiencies among school children may hinge on inadequate nutrient intake. School meals should improve nutrient intakes by providing a third of recommended daily energy and nutrient intakes (RNI). The study aimed at evaluating school meals served in three rural schools to determine if they met one third of the RNI of the children. This will enhance meal planning.MethodsFood samples (20 g) that constituted the school meals were collected for five consecutive days from three schools where school lunch programme was implemented. These were put in labelled small air tight plastic containers and stored in deep freezers in the Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The samples were analysed chemically using standard methods. Portion sizes of foods were obtained and the contributions made by these meals to the children’s RNI were calculated. Results were presented in percentages and means ± standard deviations.ResultsThe results showed that energy value of the meals ranged from 32.27 – 243.4 Kcal/100 g. The school meals contained carbohydrate (0.7 – 48.4 g), protein (0.69 – 12.6 g), vitamin C (0.7 – 8.22 mg), vitamin A (3.0 – 255.5 RE), iron (0.05 – 1.7 mg), calcium (3.0 –120 mg) and zinc (0.14 – 3.0 mg) per 100 g of food consumed. They contributed 16.4 – 25.5% energy, 53.4 – 116.9% protein, 66.0 – 159.5% vitamin A, 37.3 – 45.7% vitamin C, 13.2 – 28.5% calcium, 5.9 – 20.6% iron and 35.1 – 92.9% zinc to the children’s daily requirements.ConclusionThe school meals provided over one third of the RNI for protein, vitamins A and C, and zinc but did not meet a third of the RNI for energy, calcium and iron.
Highlights
Nutritional deficiencies among school children may hinge on inadequate nutrient intake
Boys constituted 52.6% while 47.4% were girls. Those in Early Child Centres (ECC) were 36.2% whereas 63.8% were in primary schools
This study aimed to assess the energy and nutrient composition of school meals served in 3 schools in Enugu and Anambra States of Nigeria and their contributions to energy and nutrient intakes of school children
Summary
Nutritional deficiencies among school children may hinge on inadequate nutrient intake. The high prevalence of under nutrition in developing countries of the world has triggered many intervention strategies to ameliorate these conditions which have been found to have huge consequences on the affected individuals, their families and the nation as a whole. From a health promotion approach, the quality and amount of food and beverages consumed while at school have an enormous potential impact on the health and well-being of young people [2]. They are active and often require more calories and nutrients in comparison with their body sizes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
