Development of family participated nutrition education model for preschool aged children and evaluation of children nutritional knowledge and behaviour

The aim of the study was to develop a family participated nutrition education model for preschool aged children and to evaluate the effect of this education model on children nutritional knowledge and behaviour.The study was performed in total of 74 children from a public kindergarten in İstanbul Province, Kartal District between February-June 2015 (Application Period: 3 months, Evaluation Period: 1 month). Family nutrition education document and family-child home activity was given to the Family Participation Group (FPG) (n:24) to support the school nutrition education after each lesson. Nutrition education was given to the Training Group (TG) (n:16) only in the school. No intervention was applied to the Control Group (CG) (n:34). Before and after Application Period anthropometric measurements were performed and analyzed. Family's socio-demographic attributes, eating habits and anthropometric measurements were measured by questionnaire in Evaluation Period. Children's three days food records and food frequency questionnaires were filled by families. Food consumption in school was weighed and recorded. It was reported that 82.4% of children usually choosy in eating. Before the Application Period according to the age for body mass index 35.1% of children were overweight and obese, after the Application Period the frequency of overweight and obese children was 31.1% and this reduction was the highest in TG. After the Application Period; in the FPG the percentage of energy from protein, vitamin B12, sodium intake were increased (p<0.05), whereas in the TG energy, carbohydrates, fiber and vitamin D were decreased (p<0.05). In the CG fiber intake was decreased (p<0.05). In all groups, energy, dietary fiber, vitamin D, folate, calcium and iron intake of children were inadequate compared with Turkish nutritional recommendation. Only protein intake was high among all groups. After the Application Period; in the FGP consumption of legume and fat were decreased (p<0.05), vegetable consumption was increased (p<0.05), in the TG consumption of egg and fruit consumption were decreased, whereas vegetable consumption was increased (p<0.05), and in the CG vegetables and candy consumption was increased (p<0.05). Before the Application Period it was detected that milk-yogurt, cheese, egg, legume, bread and nuts consumption were not meeting the Turkish nutritional recommendation. Meat group, cereal, fat and nuts consumption were above the recommendations. After the Application Period in the FPG and the TG cheese consumption was meeting the recommendation and fat consumption was decreased to the recommended level. Between groups healthy food consumption was apparent in the FPG, decline in unhealthy food consumption was apparent in the TG. Especially in the AKG it was observed that healthy foods supplied at home and their consumption of children were increased. It was determined that in the FPG and the TG children interests in unhealthy foods at shopping were decreased whereas healthy foods increased. Positive changes were determined in the FPG parents' attitudes toward nutrition. Finally, we assume that providing family participation in preschool nutrition education programs might be implemented for the development of healthy eating habits, which may increase the effectiveness of the training.