Children nourishment analysis in the state and private pre-school educational institutions of Klaipėda city

Unbalanced children‘s nourishment is becoming an important issue in the whole world, it leads to the growing number of problems such as obesity, suffering from long-term illnesses, worse academic results, deficiency of energy; it influences the maturity process and the entire welfare. Healthy and balanced nutrition is a highly relevant factor in pre-school educational institutions to secure normal children‘s growth and development, establishment of healthy eating habbits which affects the further nutrition and health of an adult person. The aim of this work was to assess theoretical and practical aspects of children‘s nourishment in the state and private pre-school educational institutions of Klaipėda city. In order to achieve the purpose of this work, the analysis of menus and a quantative survey have been conducted. An anonymous questionare was used for the survey. The respondents of the survey became children‘s parents of the state and private pre-school educational institutions of Klaipėda city. 540 questionares were distributed in total, 377 questionares were classified as ratable samples (response frequency 69,8%). The statistical data was analysed by using SPSS 21.0 packet. The following mathematical procedures of statistics were used: analysis of frequency, indications of independence check (chi square (χ2) criterion). After the children‘s menus analysis in the state and private pre-school educational institutions of Klaipėda city it became obviuos that the food supplied was varied. Different salats and vegetables are given to children with the main course for lunch. However, an insignificant mismatch of recommended food ration calories per day was detected; it was noticed in the state pre-school educational institutions more frequently. The results of the anonymous questionare revealed that the respondents, whose children attended private pre-school educational institutions, evaluated the quality of nutrition more positively, (χ2 = 31,2, lls = 4, p = 0,000). The vast majority of children who did not have indigestion problems caused by food in pre-school educational institutions, were from private pre-schools, (χ2 = 7,1, lls = 2, p = 0,028). Parents, whose children attend state pre-school educational institutions, miss certain food ingredients more often (χ2 = 8,7, lls = 2, p = 0,013), mostly they miss the variety of vegetables, fruits and berries