scholarly journals The quality of school lunch consumed reflects overall eating patterns in 11–16-year-old schoolchildren in Finland

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 2092-2098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Tilles-Tirkkonen ◽  
Saara Pentikäinen ◽  
Jenni Lappi ◽  
Leila Karhunen ◽  
Kaisa Poutanen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Eating Patterns ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Family Dinner ◽  
Eastern Finland ◽  
At Home

AbstractObjectiveTo explore how the quality of school lunch consumed reflected overall eating patterns in school-aged children.DesignChildren filled in an Internet-based questionnaire about their eating patterns. The children were then divided into balanced and imbalanced school lunch eaters on the basis of their responses in the questionnaire. A balanced school lunch consisted of, by the definition used in the present study, a main dish, salad and bread.SettingEleven primary schools and one middle school in eastern Finland.SubjectsA total of 531 schoolchildren (247 boys and 284 girls) aged 11–16 years.ResultsThe school lunch was balanced in 46·5 % of children. Eating a balanced school lunch was associated with overall healthier eating patterns outside school. Children who ate a balanced school lunch had more regular meal times and consumed healthier snacks. They ate fruit or berries and vegetables, dairy products and wholegrain foods more often, consumed fewer salty snacks, pizzas, meat pies and drank fewer soft drinks and energy drinks. Their eating patterns at home were also healthier, with vegetables being offered at every family dinner and fruit being offered daily, whereas soft drinks were offered seldom.ConclusionsThe choices made by children in their school lunch reflect the overall eating patterns among school-aged children. Eating a balanced school lunch is associated with more regular meal patterns, the availability of healthier foods at home and an overall healthier diet, suggesting that healthy eating patterns are learnt at home.

scholarly journals Relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for obesity surveillance in school-aged children – The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative in Ireland

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bel-Serrat ◽  
Mairéad Madigan ◽  
Rachel Sheane ◽  
Celine M. Murrin ◽  
Cecily C. Kelleher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weighted Kappa ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Relative Validity ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Level Of Agreement

AbstractIntroductionValidation studies are indispensable to test the appropriateness of dietary assessment methods used within epidemiological surveys to accurately assess food intake in young populations. The aim of this study was to examine the relative validity of the food group frequency questionnaire (FGFQ) used to assess dietary intake in the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative.Materials and MethodsThis study was undertaken in a convenience sample of 33 Irish children aged 7–9 years old from urban Dublin-based primary schools. Food group intake estimates were collected with the FGFQand compared with those obtained with a 7-day semi-weighed food diary. Agreement between frequencies of intake between the two instruments were examined using Spearman's correlation coefficient, cross-classification analyses and weighted kappa.ResultsThe FGFQ over-estimated the number of portions for most of the food groups as compared with the reference method. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.75 (cheese) to 0.03 (flavoured milk). Level of agreement was moderate with an average correlation coefficient of 0.45. The proportion of children classified in the same category ranged from 96.9% (sweet treats) to 60.6% (vegetables). Misclassification was less than 15% for fruit, soft drinks, low fat milk, fish, savoury snacks and sweet treats and above 30% for vegetables, dairy products and pastries & biscuits. Weighted kappa statistic values ranged from 0.84 (sweet treats) to 0.10 (vegetables). Mean level of agreement was moderate (0.39). No agreement (< 0.0) was found for soft drinks.DiscussionAlthough the strength of association estimates varied by food group, strong to moderate levels of relative validity were observed. Our results show that the FGFQ gives acceptable estimates of food group intakes among Irish school-aged children and that the tool can be used for ranking subjects according to food group intakes.

scholarly journals What’s for lunch? The content and quality of lunches consumed by Dutch primary schoolchildren and the differences between lunches consumed at home and at school

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédérique C. Rongen ◽  
Ellen van Kleef ◽  
Sienna Sanjaya ◽  
Monique H. Vingerhoeds ◽  
Elly J. M. Buurma-Rethans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Nonparametric Tests ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Primary Schoolchildren ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Lunch is an important part of a healthy diet, which is essential for the development, growth and academic performance of school-aged children. Currently there is an increasing number of Dutch primary schoolchildren who are transitioning from eating lunch at home to school. There is limited knowledge about the current quality of the lunches consumed by primary schoolchildren in the Netherlands and whether there are any differences between lunches consumed at home or at school. To investigate differences in content and quality of lunches consumed by Dutch primary schoolchildren at home and at school. Methods Cross-sectional study among 363 Dutch primary schoolchildren aged 4–12 years based on the first two years of the 2012–2016 Dutch National Food Consumption Survey. Demographic characteristics were obtained through a questionnaire. Diet was assessed with two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Quality of lunches was assessed on their nutritional quality whether they fitted the nutritional guidelines. ‘Nonparametric tests were used to examine the content and quality of the lunches between place of consumption and parental educational position. Results The most consumed lunch products among primary schoolchildren were bread, dairy products and sugar-sweetened beverages. Fruit and vegetable consumption was very low. Consumption of milk and other dairy products was higher among children who eat lunch at home than children who eat lunch at school (p < 0.01). Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was higher among children who eat lunch at school than children who eat lunch at home (p < 0.01), and at school a higher proportion of the drinks did not fit within the Dutch dietary recommendations (p < 0.01). Conclusions The current content of the lunches consumed by Dutch primary schoolchildren leaves room for improvement, especially regarding fruit and vegetables. The statistically significantly higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and lower consumption of milk and dairy products at school vs. home is worrisome, as currently more children in the Netherlands are transitioning to having lunch at school.

scholarly journals Relationships between children’s sugar consumption at home and their food choices and consumption at school lunch

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (16) ◽  
pp. 2941-2949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khlood Baghlaf ◽  
Vanessa Muirhead ◽  
Cynthia Pine
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
School Meals ◽  
School Food ◽  
High Sugar ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
Health Programmes ◽  
At Home

AbstractObjective:To investigate the relationships between children’s food and drink choices at school lunch for children who consume high and low sugar intakes at home.Design:Children’s food and drink consumption at home was assessed using diet diaries over three consecutive days. Children were classified as ‘high’ or ‘low’ sugar consumers at home using the WHO recommendation that free sugars should be less than 10 % of their daily total energy intake. A purposive sample of children was then selected and observed during school lunch, recording food selections, food left on plates and content of packed lunches.Setting:Six primary schools in Newham and Kent, England.Participants:Parents and children aged 6–7 years.Results:Seventy-one parents completed diet diaries. From the seventy-one, thirty-nine children were observed during school lunch. Twenty children were high sugar consumers, nineteen children were low sugar consumers; thirty-one children had a school meal. Eleven of the fifteen children (73 %) who had school meals and who were high sugar consumers selected a high-sugar dessert rather than fruit. Only five of the sixteen (31 %) children who had school meals and were low sugar consumers at home chose a high-sugar dessert. Most of the children who had packed lunches had sweet items, despite school policies.Conclusions:Children who consumed high sugar intake at home tended to select foods high in sugar for school meals or had packed lunches containing high-sugar foods. The implications for public health programmes include healthy eating workshops and implementing school food policies.

scholarly journals Applicability and quality assessment of the set of equipment in the project “Polygon for physical activity of school-aged children“ in primary schools without gymnasia

Kinesiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-142
Author(s):  
Slaven Krtalić ◽  
Vitomir Spasović ◽  
Lana Kasumović ◽  
Maja Lang Morović ◽  
Ljiljana Muslić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Physical Education Class ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Education Class ◽  
Independent Assessment ◽  
Regular Physical Exercise

In 2015, 120 main primary schools in Croatia did not have a school gymnasium, and could not carry through the full-time compulsory Physical Education (PE) class. To ensure regular physical exercise to all children and help teachers, the Croatian Institute of Public Health has implemented the project “Polygon for Physical Activity of School-Aged Children”. This paper aims to present the usability and functionality assessment of the multipurpose kinesiology equipment set used in the Project in the primary schools without gymnasia based on the teachers’ experience and appraisals in three independent assessment waves. Results show that after receiving the set the teachers perceived they had better conditions for teaching Physical Education class and managed to fulfil PE curriculum goals and tasks. Students’ motivation for physical education class also improved in some areas, as well as teachers’ satisfaction with the conditions for and school investments in PE class. Most of the teachers perceived that the multipurpose kinesiology equipment set had the potential to improve the quality of PE class and to be used in other classes as well. According to the obtained data it could be assumed that this multipurpose kinesiology equipment set is a positive innovation in the teaching process and presents a strong potential for alleviating the spatial and material problems teachers in schools without gymnasia are experiencing in their work.

scholarly journals Nutritional Quality of Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Dishes at School: Are Nutrient Profiling Systems Sufficiently Informative?

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2256
Author(s):  
Romane Poinsot ◽  
Florent Vieux ◽  
Christophe Dubois ◽  
Marlène Perignon ◽  
Caroline Méjean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Nutrient Adequacy ◽  
Nutrient Profiling ◽  
Almost All

In France, school canteens must offer a vegetarian meal at least once per week. The objective was to evaluate the nutritional quality of school main dishes. A database of main dishes served in primary schools was first split into non-vegetarian (n = 669) and vegetarian (n = 315) categories. The latter has been divided into three sub-categories: vegetarian dishes containing cheese, vegetarian dishes containing eggs and/or dairy products but no cheese and vegetarian dishes without any eggs, cheese or other dairy products (vegan). Categories and sub-categories were compared based on nutrient adequacy ratios for “protective” nutrients (proteins, fibres, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids), the contents of nutrients to be limited (saturated fatty acids (SFA), sodium, free sugars) and on two nutrient profiling systems (SAIN,LIM and Nutri-Score). The vegetarian category and the non-vegetarian category displayed “adequate” levels (≥5% adequacy for 100 kcal) on average for almost all “protective” nutrients. The three sub-categories of vegetarian dishes displayed good SAIN,LIM and Nutri-Score profiles on average, although key nutrients were lacking (vitamin B12, vitamin D and DHA) or were present in insufficient amounts (vitamin B2 and calcium) in the vegan sub-category. The sub-category containing eggs and/or dairy products other than cheese was a good compromise, as it provided protective nutrients associated with eggs and fresh dairy products, while the sub-category containing cheese provided higher levels of SFA. Nutrient profile algorithms are insufficiently informative to assess the nutritional quality of school dishes.

scholarly journals Children’s lunchtime food choices following the introduction of food-based standards for school meals: observations from six primary schools in Sheffield

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Golley ◽  
Jo Pearce ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
School Meals ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Food Standards

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the lunchtime choices and nutritional intake of primary-school-aged children in England 4 months after the introduction of interim food-based standards for school lunches.DesignCross-sectional 2 d weighed food records collected in January and February 2007.SettingSix primary schools in Sheffield, England.SubjectsOne hundred and twenty-three pupils aged 8–10 years.ResultsVegetables (81 % v. 8 %) and cakes and biscuits (43 % v. 23 %) were chosen more frequently by pupils consuming a school lunch, while fruit (40 % v. 36 %), meat products (18 % v. 14 %), confectionery (72 % v. 0 %), savoury snacks (69 % v. 0 %) and drinks not meeting the school food standards (40 % v. 0 %) were chosen more often by pupils eating a packed lunch. Mean energy intake was lower in the school lunch group compared with the packed lunch group (1402 (sd 573) v. 2192 (sd 619), P = 0·005). Nutrient density (per MJ energy) was significantly better in school meals for key nutrients including protein (9·8 (sd 2·7) v. 6·3 (sd 1·9) g), fat (7·4 (sd 2·7) v. 10·6 (sd 2·8) g), NSP (2·8 (sd 1·3) v. 1·1 (sd 0·4) g), vitamin A (151·3 (sd 192·8) v. 69·1 (sd 55·6) μg), folate (29·6 (sd 11·6) v. 17·0 (sd 7·0) μg), iron (1·3 (sd 0·3) v. 0·9 (sd 0·3) mg) and zinc (1·1 (sd 0·4) v. 0·7 (sd 0·3) mg).ConclusionsSchools were largely compliant with the interim food-based standards for school meals 4 months after their introduction. Within the context of the new standards, children taking a school lunch are more likely to eat a more nutritious lunch, in terms of less high-fat/salt/sugar foods and nutrient density. The introduction of nutrient-based standards is warranted. Efforts to improve the lunchtime intake of children taking a packed lunch are also required.

EFFICIENCY OF USING GENODIAGNOSTIC TEST IN ASSESSMENT OF PERINATAL INFECTION OF YOUNG ANIMALS IN PREVENTION OF LEUKEMIA OF CATTLE

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-455
Author(s):  
N.G. Kozyreva ◽  
◽  
I.Yu. Abashin ◽  
L.A. Ivanova ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Products ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Infection Frequency ◽  
Perinatal Infection ◽  
Serological Method ◽  
Drinking Milk

This article presents the results of determining the level of perinatal infection of calves with the bovine leukemia virus at the age from birth to colostrum intake and 1-1.5 months after birth when drinking milk from healthy individuals, excluding the alimentary transmission route, with an infection frequency of 5.4% in the surveyed farm. Improvement of molecular diagnostics based on genomic analysis in the scheme of complex antiepizootic/recreational measures for bovine leukemia has been carried out in order to improve the quality of dairy products. As part of the implementation and improvement of the scheme of preventive measures, a positive trend was found, expressed in a tendency to a 3.6-fold decrease in the frequency of detection of BLV infection of young animals. In the course of work, the efficiency of the use of a gene diagnostic test - multiplex PCR-RT – as a tool for the specific prevention of bovine leukemia of calves in the early stages of the disease was shown: the relative diagnostic sensitivity of the PCR-RT technique is at a level not lower than that of the serological method and differs in the side of overestimation by 3.8 times.

scholarly journals Psychosocial health of school-aged children during the initial COVID-19 safer-at-home school mandates in Florida: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. McKune ◽  
Daniel Acosta ◽  
Nick Diaz ◽  
Kaitlin Brittain ◽  
Diana Joyce- Beaulieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Home School ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
K 12 ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Given the emerging literature regarding the impacts of lockdown measures on mental health, this study aims to describe the psychosocial health of school-aged children and adolescents during the COVID-19 Safer-at-Home School mandates. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 (n = 280) among K-12 students at a research school in North Central Florida. Bivariate analysis and logistic and multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine socio-demographic and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) predictors of indicators of anxiety-related, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)-related symptoms. Outcomes (anxiety, OCD, and depressive related symptoms) were measured by indices generated based on reported symptoms associated with each psychosocial outcome. Results Loss of household income was associated with increased risk for all three index-based outcomes: depressive symptoms [aOR = 3.130, 95% CI = (1.41–6.97)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 2.531, 95%CI = (1.154–5.551)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 2.90, 95%CI = (1.32–6.36)]. Being female was associated with being at higher risk for depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = (1.02–2.93)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 1.75, 95% CI = (1.04–2.97)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 1.764, 95%CI = (1.027–3.028)]. Parental practices protective against COVID-19 were associated with children being at higher risk of depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = (1.04–2.31)]. Lower school level was associated with children being at higher risk of anxiety-related and OCD-related symptoms. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, schools should prioritize mental health interventions that target younger, female students, and children of families with income loss. Limiting the spread of COVID-19 through school closure may exacerbate negative psychosocial health outcomes in children, thus school administrators should move quickly to target those at greatest risk.

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