Estimation of pupil’s nutrition in general education schools of Siauliai County

Aim of the study - to investigate and evaluate organization of pupil’s nutrition in Siauliai county general education schools. Objectives: 1. To investigate pupil’s nutritional habits according to gender, age, place of residence; 2. To evaluate the pupil’ s opinion about the quality of school food service; 3. To investigate pupil’s nutrition and food service quality changes in 2005 - 2009 years. Methods of research. Public survey (questionnaires) regarding nutritional habits was carried our between ninth and eleventh grade pupils in our country. Investigation took place in 2009 March – April in Siauliai city municipality, Siauliai area, Joniskis city municipality, Joniskis area, Kelme city municipality, Kelme area. 774 pupils participated in this research also it was compared to research carried out in 2005 for general comparison of pupils’ nutrition changes. Some of the questions were given to examine the social-demographic data (gender, age, class, place of residence), another part of questions was given to evaluate certain food consumption frequency and pupils’ nutrition quality. Data analysis was carried out with “SPSS 15.0 for Windows” software. Results. The survey has revealed, that 42.8% of children eat fruit almost every day. Statistically significant diffrences were found between frequency of girls and boys fruit consumption: girls from both 9th and 11th classes eat fruits every day more frequently than boys. Vegetables were consumed by one third (33.2%) of children surveyed. Girls from both 9th and 11th classes consumed vegetables more often than boys (χ2=8.3, p=0,004). Almost half (47.4%) of children surveyed ate sweets. Crisps were consumed by one third (30.6%) of the children. 33.9% of the children drank cocacola or similar drinks 2 – 3 or more times per week. Conclusions. Commonly used products were vegetables, fruits, milk products, white bread, loaf, meat. Less commonly fish, black bread was used. Approximately one third of respondents ate hot breakfast or lunch at school canteen every day, more frequently it was ninth grade pupils. Generally respondents eat three times a day. The main factor according to which respondents choose their food is taste. Non private economical activity dominates in most schools (75% in city area and 68.4% in region area). Main dishes (soups, other hot dishes) are prepared in school canteen. Respondents ge From 2005 to 2009, children nutrition has a tendency to improve: there was increase of children, daily consuming vegetables in 3%, decrease of children daily consuming crisps in 3.8%, 7.7% decrease of children drinking cola or similar drinks, 5.7% decrease of children consuming alcohol. Change of other foods consumption was not so significant