Composición de los alimentos incorporados en la merienda escolar en niños preescolares / Composition of Food Incorporated to the School Snack of Preschool Children

RESUMEN Introducción: Según la alta incidencia de desnutrición en el país, se realizan estudios que evidencian un bajo rendimiento físico y mental en el niño, relacionado a una inadecuada merienda escolar. Objetivo: Evaluar la composición de la merienda escolar y los factores determinantes. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal correlacional, realizado en preescolares de 10 centros de educación inicial de la provincia de Santa Elena, en 2017. El universo quedó constituido por 785 niños, con una muestra de 150 binomios padres/preescolares. Se utilizó el método observacional y la encuesta aplicada, las variables estudiadas fueron: edad de los padres, sexo, nivel de instrucción, peso y talla (evaluadas según las Tablas de Valoración Nutricional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud), alimentos incluidos en la merienda y capacitación sobre alimentación saludable. En el análisis de los datos se utilizó el software SPSSS versión 21 y las medidas de tendencia central, de dispersión e intervalos de confianza. Resultados: El 84,44 por ciento de los padres incorporan alimentos saludables, 81,14 por ciento entre 21 a 25 años de edad. En la escuela "Carmen Montenegro" suministran en la merienda escolar alimentos saludables a diferencia del centro de educación "Luz Esmeralda Valdivia" en la cual añaden alimentos de bajo nivel proteico y donde 58,73 por ciento manifestó no haber recibido capacitación sobre alimentación saludable. Conclusión: Los alimentos más incorporados en la merienda escolar fueron: frutas, lácteos, legumbres y jugos naturales; y los menos añadidos fueron: dulces, jugos envasados, gaseosas y snacks(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: With respect to the high incidence of malnutrition in the country, studies are being carried out that show a low physical and mental performance in the child, associated with inadequate school snack. Objective: To evaluate the composition of the school snack and the determining factors. Methods: A descriptive, correlation, cross-sectional study was carried out in preschools children from 10 education centers in Santa Elena Province, in 2017. The study population was made up of 785 children, with a sample of 150 parent/ preschool binomials. The observational method and the applied survey were used, the variables studied were age of the parents, sex, level of instruction, weight and height (evaluated according to the Nutritional Assessment Tables of the World Health Organization), foods included in the snack, and training on healthy eating. The software SPSS v. 21 and the measures of central tendency, dispersion and confidence intervals were used in the data analysis. Results: 84.44 percent of the parents incorporate healthy foods, 81.14 percent between 21 and 25 years of age. At Carmen Montenegro School, they provide healthy food in the school snack, unlike Luz Esmeralda Valdivia Education Center, in which they add low-protein foods and where 58.73 percent said that they had not received training on healthy eating. Conclusion: The most incorporated foods in the school snack were fruits, dairy products, legumes, and natural juices; while the least added were sweets, packaged juices, soda, and snacks(AU)

Results of chemical analysis of food products and meals provided by school lunch program in secondary schools / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Introduction In recent years it has been observed epidemiological transition in the world population’s morbidity and mortality causes, indicating a shift from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases. In 2012, cardiovascular diseases alone accounts for 30 per cent of all deaths in the world. In Mongolia, non-communicable diseases are growing steadily and becoming the leading causes of morbidity and mortality of population. According to the Global School-based Student Health Survey-Mongolia 2010, overall, 19.3 per cent of school children had 4 or more nutritional risk factors of NCD and 8,3 per cent of students were overweight and 0,8 per cent were obese. Above mentioned study shows that, the prevention of NCD should be started from childhood, improving the consumption of fruits and vegetables for school snack and lunch is important in the prevention of NCD among school children. The study is aimed at determination of types, consumption and chemical composition of food products and meals provided in school snack program. Scope and methods of investigation The investigation was performed in Ulaanbaatar and Tuv aimag. Under the our investigation included a totally 14 school canteens of Ulaanbaatar and Tuv aimag. Consumption of Food products was investigated using the Food Consumption Questionnaire method. All managers of school canteens interviewed by well-trained researchers using the time from 20 to 30 min for each of them. Food samples were obtained, keeping in cool boxes, transported to the Public Health Central Laboratory of National Center of Public Health, Mongolia. Chemical composition of food and snack samples were investigated according to the related standard methods for determination of protein, fat, carbohydrates, Vitamin C, Calcium. Results Consumption of vegetables and local fruits for school snack and meal was not enough for prevention of NCD among school children. Use of milk and milk products for school snacks and lunch were obtained only 1-3 times during the 10 days, which is too poor consumption. According to the results of chemical analysis, 83.4 per cent of all food samples had calories less than 340 kcal, which is the required value of calories of school snack per one student. With regard to protein level 50 per cent of samples had 2.57-7.7grams of protein, which is lower than the recommended level of 10-12 gr. Fat level of samples were ranged between 7.2-1.97 grams and 95.5 per cent of samples had lower fat content compared to the recommended value of 9.0 grams. When 68.7 per cent of samples had 4.5-38.03 grams of carbohydrates, which is lower than the recommended amount, some 4.5 per cent of samples had higher carbohydrates compared to the recommendation. Amount of vitamin C in school snack was extremely lower than the recommended amount that vitamin C was found between 0.02-2.31mg, satisfying only 10 per cent of the national recommendation of vitamin C amount for school snack. Amount of Calcium in milk products of school snack and meals was also low than recommended level.