Description of the importance of nutrition quality in elmentary schools in Međimurje county

Uloga prehrane i njezin utjecaj na zdravlje tijekom cijelog života svakog pojedinca od velike je važnosti. Kako bi ljudski organizam održao svoju funkciju i dobro stanje, potrebni su mu određeni hranjivi sastojci bez čije ravnoteže ne bi mogao normalno funkcionirati. Pravilna prehrana u djetinjstvu ključna je za zdravlje u odrasloj dobi. Zbog intenzivnog rasta i razvoja, djeci i mladima potrebna je raznovrsna i energetski uravnotežena prehrana. Budući da na prehranu utječu mnogi vanjski čimbenici, to je vrijeme stvaranja dobrih i loših prehrambenih navika koje određuju buduću kvalitetu prehrane. Provedeno je istraživanje u svibnju 2019. godine na uzorku od 368 učenika u šest osnovnih škola na području Međimurske županije. Istraživanje je provedeno u 7. i 8. razredu. Anketa izrađena za potrebe ovog istraživanja sadrži 20 pitanja. Cilj ovog rada je ispitati razinu zadovoljstva učenika školskom kuhinjom. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja pokazuju kako 88% učenika smatra da je dovoljno informirano o važnosti zdrave prehrane, no veći dio njih, čak 83,7% navodi da u školi najviše voli jesti brzu hranu (pizza, pommes) i tjesteninu. U anketi se nalazi pitanje i o samopercepciji gdje u odgovorima ne primjećujemo znatnu razliku između djevojčica i dječaka. Od dječaka, 35 (20,5%) smatra da je prekomjerne tjelesne težine, a od djevojčica njih 47 (23,9%) tvrdi da je prekomjerne tjelesne težine. Također, 20 (11,7%) dječaka tvrdi da je nedostatne tjelesne težine, dok od djevojčica njih 17 (8,6%) smatra da je nedostatne tjelesne težine. Od ukopno 368 učenika, 266 se hrani u školi, te veličine porcija većim dijelom smatraju premalenima, što potvrđuje rezultate na pitanje da li su gladni tokom nastave, gdje 200 (54,3%) učenika navodi da je ponekad gladno, dok 97 (26,4%) učenika navodi da je često gladno. Ti se rezultati mogu povezati sa činjenicom da se 102 učenika ipak ne hrani u školi, već si hranu nosi od kuće, kupuje peciva u pekarama ili ne jede ništa. Od mesa u školskoj kuhinji najviše ispitanika navodi da im je najdraža piletina, te kako smatraju da bi riba i voće trebali biti zastupljeniji na školskom jelovniku. 224 (61,4%) učenika navodi kako hrana u školskoj kuhinji nije dovoljno raznovrsna, ali njih 222 (60,3%) smatra da je zdrava. U svrhu poboljšanja kvalitete prehrane, potrebna je edukacija učenika, roditelja i školskog osoblja.The role of nutrition and its effect on health throughout each individual’s life are of great importance. In order for the human body to maintain its function and well-being, it needs a balanced amount of specific nutrients without which it would not be able to function properly. A proper nutrition in childhood is crucial for good health in adulthood. Due to their rapid growth and development, children and adolescents need a varied and energy-balanced diet and since nutrition is influenced by many external factors, this is the period in which good and poor eating habits are developed which then determine the future quality of their diet. The research was conducted in May 2019 on a sample of 368 students in six elementary schools in the area of Međimurje County. It was conducted among 7th and 8th grade students. The survey made for the purposes of this research contains 20 questions. The aim of this paper is to examine the level of student satisfaction regarding their school’s canteen. The results of the research show that 88% of the students consider to be sufficiently informed about the importance of a healthy diet, but the majority of them, even 83.7%, say that the most they love to eat in the canteen are fast food (pizza, french fries) and pasta. The survey also contains a question about self-perception, where a significant difference in the answers between girls and boys is not noticeable. 35 (20.5%) boys claim to be overweight, as opposed to 47 (23.9%) of the girls. In addition, 20 boys (11.7%) claim to be underweight, whereas 17 girls (8.6%) claim the same for themselves. Out of a total of 368 students, 266 eat in the school canteen, and most of them consider that the portion sizes are too small, which confirms the results of the question whether they are hungry during class, where 200 (54.3%) of the students state that they are sometimes hungry, while 97 (26.4%) of them state that they are often hungry. These results can be linked to the fact that 102 students do not eat in the school canteen, but carry their own food from home, buy pastries in bakeries or do not eat anything. In terms of meat in the school canteen, the majority of the examinees say that they prefer chicken, and that they believe that fish and fruit should be more present on the school’s canteen menu. 224 (61.4%) of the students state that the food in the school canteen is not diverse enough, but 222 (60.3%) consider it healthy. The education of students, parents and school staff is necessary in order to improve the quality of nutrition