Dietary Habits of the School Pupils of classes 5th to 8 th in the Varaždin County Elementary Schools

Uravnotežena prehrana i pravilne prehrambene navike čine temelj za pravilan rast i razvoj djece školske dobi te su ključne za očuvanje zdravlja u odrasloj dobi. Pored spomenutog, utječu i na kognitivni razvoj koji je u izravnoj vezi sa školskim uspjehom. Cilj ovog specijalističkog rada bio je istražiti i analizirati prehrambene navike učenika od 5. do 8. razreda osnovnih škola pod nadležnošću Varaždinske županije, ispitati učestalost konzumacije pojedinih vrsta namirnica te ispitati preferencije prema namirnicama iz kategorije voće i povrće, kako bi se unaprijedilo provođenje projekta „Školska shema“. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 879 učenika iz 26 osnovnih škola, a rezultati su pokazali kako najviše učenika konzumira četiri obroka dnevno (36,75 %), dok manje od polovice učenika konzumira obrok prije odlaska u školu (48,92 %). Većina učenika je zadovoljna količinom hrane koju dobije u školi (57,57 %) kao i s posluženim obrocima (58,59 %). Što se tiče preferencija prema pojedinim namirnicama, one variraju ovisno o dobi učenika, s time da je evidentna promjena na prijelazu iz 6. u 7. razred. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na važnost zajedničke suradnje školskih ustanova, roditelja, zdravstvenih ustanova i medija, a sve u cilju unaprjeđenja i poboljšanja prehrambenih navika učenika.Balanced diet and proper dietary habits are a foundation for regular growth and physical development of school children and are also crucial for being healthy in adulthood. Furthermore, they influence cognitive development which is directly related to being successful at school. The aim of this paper was to do the research and analyse dietary habits of 5th to 8th grade elementary school students in Varaždin county, study the frequency of the consumption of certain groceries and analyse their preference to fruit and vegetables in order to improve the conduction of the School Scheme project. The research was done on 879 students from 26 elementary schools and the results showed that the majority of students has 4 meals a day (36.75%) and less than half of them has one meal before going to school (48.92%). The majority is satisfied with the amount of food they get at schools (57.57%), as well as with the meals served (58.59%). As for the groceries, the preference is dependant upon the age, visible change being evident between 6th and 7th grade. The results show how important it is to establish the partnership between schools, parents, medical facilities and the media in order to improve and upgrade students’ dietary habits