Aranceta Bartrina J, Pérez Rodrigo C, Serra Majem L, Delgado Rubio A. [Food habits of students using school dining rooms in Spain. "Tell Me How You Eat" Study].
Aten Primaria 2004;
33:131-9. [PMID:
14987496 PMCID:
PMC7677920 DOI:
10.1016/s0212-6567(04)79373-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2003] [Accepted: 09/01/2003] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe food habits of school-aged population having school meals and to evaluate perceived quality of the service.
STUDY DESIGN
Descriptive cross-sectional study.
SETTING
Community School lunchrooms in different Spanish regions.
PARTICIPANTS
Random population sample of children and young people (3-16 year) having school meals in Spain.
MEASUREMENTS
The study protocol included socio-economical data, food consumption and dietary habits at the school and out of the school. Information was collected by means of two questionnaires: one completed by children at school and a second one completed by the family at home.
RESULTS
Valid response was collected from 322 children and 212 families, a response rate of 96.1% children and 63.3% of the families. 88% of the children reported daily consumption of breakfast, 45% used to have a midmorning snack, which consisted of a sandwich (29%); sweet bakery products (27%) or biscuits (15%). 45% of the 12-16-year-old old group reported eating only half of the portion served at lunch in the school, mainly due to disgusting taste or preparation (50%). In the school menus vegetables and fish were offered less frequently than other food groups. 81% of the children referred having an after-school snack in the afternoon, consisting of a sandwich (65%); bakery products (20%); bread and chocolate (20%); yoghurt or fruit (20%).
CONCLUSIONS
School meals provide a wonderful opportunity to widen the variety of foods in the daily diet of children. Recommendations about school meals should address the quality and variety of the foods served for a healthy diet and stress the educational dimension.
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