Analysis of nutritional features of the urban and rural pupils'

Objectives: 1. To investigate the nutritional habits of pupils, by taking their sex, age and place of residence into account. 2. To determine the ways of nutrition of pupils at school. 3. To evaluate the opinion of pupils regarding the assortment of food served at school lunchrooms and the quality of such services. 4. To offer possible solutions of improving the nutrition of pupils. The respondents of the questionnaire survey were Lithuanian pupils, studying in 10-12 grades. The survey was performed in two city and two regional schools: Kaunas Jesuit gymnasium, Garliava Jonuciai Secondary School of Kaunas district, Ariogala Gymnasium of Raseiniai district, and Betygala Maironis Secondary School of Raseiniai district. 243 pupils from rural areas and 152 pupils from the city participated in the research. 384 questionnaires were suitably filled-in and were used for the research (reciprocity rate 97%). The pupils had to answer 27 questions of an anonymous survey. The data received was processed by applying SPSS (angl. Statistical Package for the Social Science), a statistical data analysis package, version 19. The results of the research showed that healthy nutrition recommendations were followed by 17.1% of city school pupils, and by 19.7% of rural school pupils. Moreover, 76.0% of city pupils and 72.7% of rural pupils were aware of the healthy eating pyramid. The main source of information about healthy nutrition was Internet (city pupils – 37.0%, rural pupils – 35.3%). In addition, 47.3% of city pupils and 53.8% of rural pupils were dissatisfied with school menu. What is more, almost half of the respondents from the city (45.9%) stated that their nutrition is well-balanced and sufficient, but only one third of rural school pupils (35.7%) thought that their nutrition is the same. City school pupils ate mainly 3 times a day (41.8%), whereas rural school pupils ate 4 times a day and more (42.4%). In city schools, a statistically significant (p=0.019) cohesion between the place of residence and amount of meals per day was determined: pupils living in rural areas ate more times a day. However, in rural schools, a statistically significant (p=0.026) cohesion between sex and amount of meals per day was established. Female pupils had more meals per day. In addition, the cohesion between sex and eating hot lunch at school was statistically significant (p=0.048) in city schools. Hot meals were more often ate by female pupils. The cohesion between sex and amount of liquids drunk per day was statistically significant (p=0.000) in rural schools: male tended to drink more. Moreover, in rural schools, a statistically significant cohesion between sex and nutrition recommendations was also determined: female pupils tended to follow them more. In city schools, the cohesion between sex and knowledge about fast food effect on health was statistically significant (p=0.029) as well: female pupils were more aware of it. Results of the present research have confirmed conclusions of previous similar studies, which are the following: pupils eat irregularly, tend to choose fruits and vegetables for their meals rarely, consume carbonated drinks, do not avoid alcoholic ones, and do not follow healthy nutrition principles. Moreover, differences between nutrition of city and rural pupils are trivial. City school pupils state that their nutrition is well-balanced and sufficient more often. However, rural school pupils eat breakfast and have hot meals during lunch more often than city pupils