Evaluation of elementary school lunch menus (1) : based on food diversity

ABSTRACT

The sound dietary habit is formed in childhood, which is basic foundation for keeping health. The school foodservice is practiced to provide proper nutritions, to establish the sound dietary habit. Continuous evaluation and improvement are necessary to operate school foodservice effectively. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of meals served in elementary school based on nutrient content, food diversity. A questionnaire was mailed to dietitian of each school requested for menus of one week. Menus served in 77 schools from each province and major cities in Korea were analyzed. The results of this study were summarized as follows; Compared to 1/3 of RDA for children, many schools provide lower amounts of energy, calcium and Vitamin A. Proportions of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat were 59.64%, 17.43% and 20.11%, respectively and were not significantly different by the area, the foodservice system, and the number of persons served. NAR(nutrient adequacy ratio) were lowest for calcium(0.67) and Vitamin A(0.65). MAR(mean adequacy ratio) was 0.83. The results of comparison of NAR and MAR by the area, the foodservice system, and the number of persons served were similar to those of nutrient contents. Comparing foods served by the nutrient density were different by nutrient contents, NAR and MAR. Mean nutrient density per meal were higher in large cities than in small cities and rural area, in conventional than in commissary foodservice system. Mean number of dishes and food items per meal were 5.86 and 19.87, respectively. The mean of total quantity of each food group per meal was 352g. The mean of total quantity of each food group per meal were higher in small cities and rural area than in large cities, in commissary than in conventional foodservice system. This study is based only on served menus, and the evaluations of meals based on actual consumption of children are needed. These results suggest that in order to improve the quality of school food service, realistic standard should be suggested and basic study should be done continuously.