Assessment of nutritional habits on a group of pupils from a countryside elementary school in Romania

Food is a major contributor to healthy children and youth. The study of this factor must be complex, considering the dietary habits of the population. 65 pupils from rural area were surveyed weekly about eating chicken, fish, fruits, bread and cereal by-products. A special attention was given to daily consumption of fruits (to those who recognize this contribution). chicken appears in menus mostly 2-3 times a week (40.0%) or 4-7 times (27.7%). Fish is particularly present in menus one time (47.6%) or 2-3 times (26.2%). Fruits are provided in 75.4% cases 4-7 times a week. The dominant consumption of bread is of 4-7 times (90.8%) and of cereal by-products is of 2-3 times (58.5%) or even of 4-7 times (27.7%) a week. Self body weight is considered to be appropriate by 63.1% teenagers and in 23.1% cases they considered their body weight is too high. The implementation of national dietary programs can change the nutritional habits of children if they are based on a real assessment, achieved only with the help of surveys conducted by questionnaire method.