The observation of growth and determination of suitability of foods consumed by children educated in full time elemantary schools, according to their nutrutional requirements

The growth and suitability of foods consumed to nutritional requirements of children educated in first class of full time elementary schools related to Gaziantep provincial directorate of national education are determined in this research. 852 elementary students are included in this research. Demographical and personal information of both students and their parents, anthropometric measurements, school lunch menus with groups of foods consumed within five days and food consumption patterns of children were observed. Results and data of research are evaluated by statistical analysis as; student?s t-test and chi-square tests. The average age of children in the research is 7.05±0.24 (6.00 ? 8.00) years. According to body mass index (BMI) percentiles defined by WHO, 26.6% of children are in thin, 47.4% are in normal weight, 13% are in overweight, and 12.9% of children are in obesity groups. 51.4% of children are boys and 48.6% are girls. 72.5% of girls and 66% of boys are eating their lunch at school. There is not any significant difference between sex and eating lunch at school (p>0.05). 75.1% of children are in private school and 24.9% of children are in public schools. Among the children in private schools; 17.5% of them are thin, 44.8% are normal, 18.9% are overweight, and 18.9% are obese. Number of children in obese group are determined significantly higher in private schools than public schools (p<0.05). Among the children in this research, 73.4% are having regular breakfast, 85.8% are having regular lunch, and 89.4% are having a regular dinner. Children in overweight group is mostly having breakfast with 92% (p<0.05). There is not any significant difference between education level of mothers and BMI percentile groups of children (p>0.05). Of the children in this research, 6.1% are drinking coke every day, while 23% are not drinking coke at all. On the other hand, among the children 65.3% are consuming fresh fruits and vegetables regularly every day, while 31.7% are consuming chocolate and confectionaries daily. In the statistical analysis between consumption of meat and BMI percentile groups, children eating meat 1-2 times or less in a month are found in thinness BMI percentile (p<0.05). When 5 day lunch menus of schools in this research are observed according to their suitability to healthy growth of elementary school children, it is found that 13 menus are acceptable from 30 menus and 17 are found as not suitable for the children at this age. As a conclusion, it is definitely obvious that studies for making lunch menus of schools more suitable for the energy and nutritional requirements of elementary school aged children are needed.