Food and nutrient intakes of primary school children: a comparison of school meals and packed lunches

Background New school meal standards are currently being phased in by the government in an attempt to improve the nutritional composition of school food. However, no standards are applied to packed lunches. The present study aimed to compare the food and nutrient intakes of primary school children eating a school meal with those taking a packed lunch. Methods A sample of 120 children, aged 6–11 years, was observed once at a lunch time and all items consumed were recorded. Nutrient analysis was performed, and differences in nutrient intake between those children consuming packed lunches and school meals were determined. Results Mean energy and protein intakes were similar. The amount of energy provided by starchy carbohydrate was also similar but, compared with school meals, packed lunches provided twice as much energy from sugar (P < 0.001). School meals on average provided more energy from fat (P < 0.001), but intakes of saturated fat were lower in the school meals group (P = 0.021). Packed lunches provided more sodium (P < 0.001), calcium (P < 0.001) and iron (P = 0.016) than the school meals. Very few packed lunches contained vegetables, and fruit intake was particularly low for those having a school meal. Conclusions Children taking a packed lunch to school were consuming approximately double the amount of sugar and 50% more sodium and saturated fat in their midday meal compared with those having a school lunch. However packed lunches were providing children with more calcium, iron and fruit.     

营养指导对改善孕妇营养摄入的作用

近年来孕期合理摄人营养正日益受到孕妇及家属和妇产科工作者是重视,但是由于诸多的原因,目前孕妇的膳食营养素摄入水平仍不尽合理,这不仅会影响到孕妇的健康,还回影响胎儿的正常发育.为了解孕妇在得到适当的营养指导后,其各种营养索摄入水平的改善情况,对120例来湖北省中医院产科门诊的孕妇膳食情况进行了分组对比观察.1资料与方法     

Pacific parents' rationale for purchased school lunches and implications for obesity prevention

Pacific children and adolescents are burdened with higher prevalences of obesity compared to other groups in New Zealand. Previous research shows Pacific young people purchase their lunch food items significantly more than other groups. The aim of this study is to describe school lunch food consumption patterns and the influences on these among low-income Pacific adolescents and their parents. Using mixed-methodology design; a self-completion questionnaire was administered to 4216 students who participated in the New Zealand arm of the Obesity Prevention In Communities (OPIC) project. Thirty Pacific households (33 adolescents and 35 parents) were interviewed in the qualitative phase of the study. Results found a greater proportion of Pacific students purchased school food items compared to other ethnic groups. Purchasing school food was related to having higher amounts of daily food money (>=NZD 6-15) and this was associated with increased quantities of soft drink consumption and after-school food purchasing of high-fat, high-sugar snack foods. There were no differences in school food purchasing behaviour by Pacific weight status (n=2485), with both Healthy weight (67.6%) and Obese students (66.9%) sourcing lunch from school canteens or shops outside of school rather than from home. Time-constrained parents confirmed convenience, poverty compensation and valuing students' independence as three reasons for choosing to make money available for students to purchase lunch food items. The social effects of poverty affect the health-promoting behaviours of Pacific communities in New Zealand. Social policies that decrease social inequities should be the intervention priority.     

Application of draft nutritional standards for school lunches in the Republic of Korea: a feasibility study from the supplier perspective

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of application of the draft nutritional standards for school lunches in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from the supplier perspective.SUBJECTS/METHODSIn November 2018, a pilot operation was conducted at 104 participating schools for 2 weeks each by applying the draft standards A and B. To evaluate the ease and appropriateness of application of the standards, we analyzed the nutritional values and food cost of the school lunches for 2 weeks before and for 4 weeks under the pilot operation. We conducted an online survey of school dietitians or nutrition teachers of the participating schools to evaluate the feasibility of application of the standards in school lunch sites.RESULTSThe proportions of schools of which lunches met the reference values of the school’s own nutritional standards were 19.2% for the standards A and 21.2% for the standards B. The food cost of school lunches applying the standards A (KRW 2,880) was significantly lower than that of school lunches applying the standards B (KRW 3,030) or the existing standards (KRW 2,980). As a result of the survey, the mean score for the ease of application was significantly higher for the standards B (2.75) than for the standards A (2.24). The proportions of school dietitians or nutrition teachers reporting no problem in meeting an existing food cost standard were 72.5% for the standards A and 61.8% for the standards B, respectively. The overall appropriateness of application was higher for the standards B, because almost two-thirds (58.8%) of the respondents answered that the standards B were more appropriate than the standards A.CONCLUSIONThe standards B were more feasible to apply as nutritional standards for school lunches than the standards A from the supplier perspective.     

Demographic profile and nutrient intake assessment of individuals using emergency food programs

A dietary assessment of food pantry and soup kitchen users was conducted. A demographic and socioeconomic profile of participants was developed. One hundred ninety-one persons completed 30- to 40-minute interviews while in line to receive food assistance. Dietary status was determined from 24-hour recall data. Intakes of calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin C were compared with the 1980 RDAs for age and sex. A dietary adequacy score was developed to evaluate nutrient quality by calculation of a nutrient density ratio (total intake for a nutrient divided by the RDA). A value of one was considered the norm. A score of 0.67 or less was considered an inadequate nutrient intake. Sixty-eight percent of the sample demonstrated some degree of inadequate nutrient intake. Nutrients that tended to be the lowest were calcium (76% inadequate), vitamin C (74% inadequate), and thiamin (74% inadequate). Inadequate nutrient intake was significantly associated with a lack of cooking facilities, lower monthly incomes, and lesser amounts of money spent on food. Comparison of food pantry users with soup kitchen participants indicated calcium was a problem nutrient for both groups.     

珠三角地区部分中小学生在校午餐营养供给状况评估

目的 了解珠三角地区部分中小学学生餐的膳食能量和主要营养素供应情况,为提高学生餐营养质量和制定有效的学生营养干预措施提供科学依据.方法 对珠三角地区的8所中小学3个年龄段学生的午餐进行连续5d的膳食样品采集,通过化学分析法测定学生餐的营养成分含量,并与学生餐指南对应的营养素摄入标准进行对比分析.结果 8所中小学午餐蛋白...     

Fast-food consumption among US adults and children: dietary and nutrient intake profile

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dietary profile associated with fast-food use. To compare the dietary intake of individuals on the day that they ate fast food with the day that fast food was not eaten. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. The dietary intake of individuals who reported eating fast food on one or both survey days was compared with those who did not report eating fast food. Among the individuals who reported eating fast food, dietary intake on the day when fast food was eaten was compared with the day when fast food was not eaten. Weighted comparison of mean intakes and pairwise t-test were used in the statistical analysis. Subjects/setting Data from 17370 adults and children who participated in the 1994-1996 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Dietary intake data were collected by 2 non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. RESULTS: Fast-food use was reported by 37% of the adults and 42% of the children. Adults and children who reported eating fast food had higher intake of energy, fat, saturated fat, sodium, carbonated soft drink, and lower intake of vitamins A and C, milk, fruits and vegetables than those who did not reported eating fast food (P<.001). Similar differences were observed among individuals between the day when fast food was eaten and the day when fast food was not eaten. CONCLUSIONS: Consumers should be aware that consumption of high-fat fast food may contribute to higher energy and fat intake, and lower intake of healthful nutrients.     

Cooking schools improve nutrient intake patterns of people with type 2 diabetes

ObjectiveTo determine whether cooking classes offered by the Cooperative Extension Service improved nutrient intake patterns in people with type 2 diabetes.DesignQuasi-experimental using pretest, posttest comparisons.SettingCommunity locations including schools, churches, and senior centers.ParticipantsOne hundred seventeen people with type 2 diabetes, from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.InterventionSeries of classes for people with type 2 diabetes and their family members that incorporated Social Cognitive Theory tenets. The classes featured current nutrition recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes and hands-on cooking, where participants prepared and ate a meal together.Main Outcome MeasuresThree-day food records, completed prior to attending cooking schools and 1 month after, were used to measure changes in energy intake and selected nutrients.AnalysisProgram efficacy was assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare differences between pre-training and post-training variables. ANCOVA was used to determine whether program efficacy was affected by sociodemographics.ResultsParticipants decreased (P < .05) intakes of energy, fat grams, percentage of calories from fat, saturated fat grams, cholesterol (mg), sodium (mg), and carbohydrate grams.Conclusions and ImplicationsNutrition education incorporating hands-on cooking can improve nutrient intake in people with type 2 diabetes from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.     

Influence of school environmental factors and learning on pupils' health

This study is a part of a comprehensive research conducted at 10 schools of different education types (general educational school, specialized gymnasiums, language schools, colleges, lyceums) that are situated in Sofia. A relationship between the factors that characterize school and the training environment, and the health status of pupils was established by using currently available statistical methods. The findings show that the discrepancy between the school and training environment and the sanitary requirements and standards affect both the general and school age-specific morbidity rates in pupils. Knowing the factors, which characterize school in accordance with the claimed educational goals, and schooling factors enables one to arrange all schools.     

Food portion weights in primary and secondary school lunches in England.

BACKGROUND: National Nutritional Standards for school lunches were reintroduced in 2001, and included guidance on portion sizes for primary schools. For the first time since 1997, nationally representative data on school food portion sizes in England have been collected using direct assessment rather than reported portion sizes. METHODS: Food portions were weighed directly in foods served in nationally representative samples of primary and secondary school meals. Results were grouped by food or food group. RESULTS: The number of portions weighed was 7975 in primary schools and 3354 in secondary schools. Individual portion weights were grouped by food or food group to yield mean, median, SD and inter-quartile range. For a given food or food group, the number of portions weighed varied from 5 to 210 portions in primary schools and between 5 and 194 portions in secondary schools. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a good representation of typical portion weights for different foods and food groups in primary and secondary schools in England. Portion size is one factor that determines nutrient intake. New standards for school lunches are both nutrient and food-based. Guidance on portion weights will help to ensure that pupils consume the correct balance of foods to obtain the recommended nutrient intake. The present findings complement and extend existing guidance on portion sizes for pupils in schools in England and Scotland.     

Diet diversity and nutrient intake

Variety is espoused as a key to dietary adequacy, yet data from new shortcut dietary measures suggest that intakes of relatively few foods can accurately classify individuals according to nutrient intake. This study examines diet diversity, caloric intake, and nutrient density values as contributors to the level of selected nutrients in the diets of 1,747 white men and 1,898 white women, 18 to 34 years old, completing the 24-hour recall in NHANES II. Nutrient intake was directly related to both number of foods eaten and total calories consumed, as well as to nutrient density values. For fat, saturated fat, and potassium, higher caloric consumption alone may account for substantial differences in nutrient intakes between the lowest and highest quartiles. For cholesterol, calcium, and vitamin A, differences in dietary density were more important in explaining nutrient intake differences. Both caloric intake and nutrient density influence sodium intake from food sources. For some nutrients, an overall measure of diversity may be useful for estimating intakes. For others, nutrient-specific diversity indexes would likely be needed. Knowledge of specific foods in diets with high levels of nutrients could aid the construction of food frequency instruments.     

Maternal nutrient intake and birth-weight

The relation between diet towards the end of the first trimester of gestation and subsequent birth-weights was examined in 419 singleton pregnancies. The mothers of babies of low birth-weight were found to be consuming a diet significantly lower in energy and in some essential nutrients than the mothers of larger babies. Associations were also found between nutrient intakes, length of gestation and pre-pregnancy maternal weight.     

Organizational justice at school and its associations with pupils' psychosocial school environment, health, and wellbeing

It has been shown that the psychosocial environment perceived by school staff is associated with children’s academic performance and wellbeing. In this study we examined the associations between organizational justice (procedural and relational justice) as reported by school staff and pupils’ perceptions of their school environment, health problems, academic performance, and absenteeism. We combined data from two surveys: for the staff (the Finnish Public Sector Study, n = 1946) and pupils (the Finnish school health promotion survey, n = 11,781 boys and 12,842 girls) of 136 secondary schools, collected during 2004–2005. Multilevel cumulative logistic regression analyses showed that after adjustment for potential individual and school-level confounding factors, low procedural justice was associated with pupils’ dissatisfaction with school-going. Low relational justice was associated with a 1.30 times higher risk of poor academic performance, 1.15 times higher risk of psychosomatic symptoms and 1.13 times higher risk of depressive symptoms among pupils. Both organizational justice components were associated with truancy. We concluded that staff perceptions of organizational justice at school are associated with pupils’ reports of their psychosocial school environment, health, performance, and absenteeism due to truancy. Improving managerial and decision making procedures among school personnel may be an important factor for protecting pupils’ academic performance and wellbeing.     

Food consumption and nutrient intake in Italian school children: results of the ZOOM8 study

Abstract

The food consumption and food habits of Italian third-class-primary-school children were assessed and their energy and nutrient intakes were compared with requirements. The study involved 1740 subjects (900 males and 840 females) aged 8–9 years, from the north, centre and south of Italy. Body weight and height were measured. Parents filled in a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for their child. The results showed that the diet of Italian children is unbalanced in terms of macronutrients and deficient in fiber. The average daily intakes of fruit (234?g/d), vegetables (134?g/d) and legumes (17?g/d), were lower than the nationally recommended ones. The percentages of energy intake from fats (41%) and from carbohydrates (45%) were higher and lower respectively than recommended. Low intakes of fiber (13.5?g/d) were reported. A national nutrition policy in Italy should focus on nutrition education programs in schools and for parents.