Nutrient analysis of school lunches and anthropometric measures in a private and public school in Chennai, India.

School lunch programs have been implemented as a method to facilitate better learning environments for children. These programs bring together the importance of adequate nutrition for academic performance, growth and development. This study served to assess the impact of the School Lunch Program in India and observe measures related to nutrition adequacy and stunting in school aged children in Chennai, India. Dietary and anthropometric data were collected among students of ages 7 to 10 in a privately funded (n = 64) and a publicly funded school (n = 28). Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was assessed for private school students. BMI for Age Z-scores for the private school (0.05 ± 1.36) (mean ± standard deviation) and public school (- 0.91 ± 2.01) were significantly different (p = 0.008). Additionally, 32% of public school students exhibited mild stunting, classified as Z-scores less than - 1. Total calories consumed during the private school lunch was 269 ± 112 and 463 ± 234 for the publically funded school. Analysis of nutritional parameters of meals suggest that adequacy was otherwise fair during this singular analysis but does not provide evidence to correlate body composition and long term implications of malnutrition with this study population. Additional longitudinal analysis is required to better assess these implications.

The nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There are an estimated 2.7 million children living within institutionalized care worldwide. This review aimed to evaluate currently available data on the nutrition status of children living within institutionalized care. METHODS: We searched four databases (Pubmed/Medline, CINHAL Plus, Embase and Global Health Database) for relevant articles published from January 1990 to January 2019. Studies that included information on anthropometry or micronutrient status of children living within institutionalized care were eligible for inclusion. The review is registered on PROSPERO: CRD42019117103. RESULTS: From 3,602 titles screened, we reviewed 98 full texts, of which 25 papers were eligible. Two (8%) studies reported data from multiple countries, nine (36%) were from Asia, four (16%) from Africa, three (12%) from Eastern Europe, four (16%) from the European Union and one (4%) from each of the remaining regions (Middle East, South America and the Caribbean). Twenty-two (88%) were cross sectional. Ten (40%) of the studies focused on children >5 years, seven (28%) on children <5 years, seven (28%) covered a wide age range and one did not include ages. Low birth weight prevalence ranged from 25-39%. Only five (20%) included information on children with disabilities and reported prevalence from 8-75%. Prevalence of undernutrition varied between ages, sites and countries: stunting ranged from 9-72%; wasting from 0-27%; underweight from 7-79%; low BMI from 5-27%. Overweight/obesity ranged from 10-32% and small head circumference from 17-41%. The prevalence of HIV was from 2-23% and anemia from 3-90%. Skin conditions or infections ranged from 10-31% and parasites from 6-76%. Half the studies with dietary information found inadequate intake or diet diversity. Younger children were typically more malnourished than older children, with a few exceptions. Children living within institutions were more malnourished than community peers, although children living in communities were also often below growth standards. High risk of bias was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the limited amount of evidence-based data available on the nutritional status of children in institutions. Of the studies reviewed, children living within institutionalized care were commonly malnourished, with undernutrition affecting young children particularly. Micronutrient deficiencies and obesity were also prevalent. Data quality was often poor: as well as suboptimal reporting of anthropometry, few looked for or described disabilities, despite disability being common in this population and having a large potential impact on nutrition status. Taken together, these findings suggest a need for greater focus on improving nutrition for younger children in institutions, especially those with disabilities. More information is needed about the nutritional status of the millions of children living within institutionalized care to fully address their right and need for healthy development.

The effects of acute post exercise consumption of two cocoa-based beverages with varying flavanol content on indices of muscle recovery following downhill treadmill running.

Dietary flavanols have been associated with reduced oxidative stress, however their efficacy in promoting recovery after exercise induced muscle damage is unclear. This study examined the effectiveness of acute consumption of cocoa-flavanols on indices of muscle recovery including: subsequent exercise performance, creatine kinase, muscle tenderness, force, and self-perceived muscle soreness. Eight endurance-trained athletes (VO2max 64.4±7.6 mL/kg/min) completed a downhill running protocol to induce muscle soreness, and 48-h later completed a 5-K (kilometer) time trial. Muscle recovery measurements were taken at PRE, 24 h-POST, 48 h-POST, and POST-5K. Participants consumed 1.0 g of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight of a randomly assigned beverage (CHOC: 0 mg flavanols vs. CocoaCHOC: 350 mg flavanols per serving) immediately after the downhill run and again 2 h later. The same protocol was repeated three weeks later with the other beverage. An ANOVA revealed no significant difference (p=0.97) between trials for 5 K completion time (CHOC 1198.3±160.6 s, CocoaCHOC 1195.5±148.8 s). No significant difference was found for creatine kinase (CK) levels (p=0.31), or muscle soreness (p=0.21) between groups over time. These findings suggest that the acute addition of cocoa flavanols to low-fat chocolate milk offer no additional recovery benefits.

Position of the American Dietetic Association: local support for nutrition integrity in schools.

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) that schools and communities have a shared responsibility to provide students with access to high-quality, affordable, nutritious foods and beverages. School-based nutrition services, including the provision of meals through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, are an integral part of the total education program. Strong wellness policies promote environments that enhance nutrition integrity and help students to develop lifelong healthy behaviors. ADA actively supported the 2004 and proposed 2010 Child Nutrition reauthorization which determines school nutrition policy. ADA believes that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans should serve as the foundation for all food and nutrition assistance programs and should apply to all foods and beverages sold or served to students during the school day. Local wellness policies are mandated by federal legislation for all school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program. These policies support nutrition integrity,including a healthy school environment. Nutrition integrity also requires coordinating nutrition education and promotion and funding research on program outcomes. Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, and other credentialed staff, are essential for nutrition integrity in schools to perform in policy-making, management, education, and community building roles. A healthy school environment can be achieved through adequate funding of school meals programs and through implementation and evaluation of strong local wellness policies.

Students consuming sack lunches devote more time to eating than those consuming school lunches.

Concern has been raised about the amount of time provided for students to consume school lunch. This study analyzed the amount of time used by elementary students to consume school lunch vs sack lunch. Data collectors used stop watches to collect wait time, opportunity time to eat and consumption time for elementary students consuming school lunch, sack lunch, and sack lunch with a separate milk purchase. Students consuming school lunch had a significantly longer wait time than those consuming sack lunch or sack lunch with milk (P<.0001). In contrast, students consuming sack lunch and sack lunch with milk had significantly longer opportunity times to eat (P<.0001) and consumption times (P<.001). There was also a significant decrease in opportunity time to eat and consumption time as grade level increased, particularly in boys (P<.05). Older boys appeared more anxious to finish eating so they could go out to recess.