The Effect of Nutrition Education on School-Aged Children’s Consumption Pattern, Knowledge and Practice in Bringing Well-Balanced Menu for Lunch

This study aimed to analyze the effect of nutrition education on the consumption pattern, knowledge, and practice in bringing a well-balanced menu (WBM) for lunch among school-aged children. The study was quasi-experimemtal research using one group with pre- and post-test. Subjects were 52 students in fifth grade at SDN Babakan Dramaga 04, Bogor. The study was conducted from February to April 2017 and nutrition education was provided twice in 2 wk. The first post-test for nutritional knowledge was done 1 wk after the nutrition education, while the evaluation of the practice of bringing WBM for lunch was conducted 2 wk after the intervention. The second and third post-tests were performed every 2 wk after that. The knowledge of balanced nutrition increased after the intervention. The initial nutritional knowledge was significantly different from those of the first and second post-tests with p values of 0.003 and 0.01, respectively. Subjects showed an improvement in the practice of bringing a well-balanced menu for lunch after the nutrition education intervention. It was also shown that carbohydrate intake at the third post-test was related to nutritional status after the intervention. The practice of bringing WBM for lunch should be continued by students and monitored by physical education teachers. Parents, especially mothers, should support their children by providing balanced and nutritious food at home.