The Role of Monitoring the Quality of School Meals in Reducing the Risk of Nutrition-Related Diseases

Background: Disturbances in the diet and time of eating meals observed in the population in recent years and characterized by a deficiency of the main nutrients and unhealthy eating habits (e.g., addiction to fatty foods, excessive salt and sugar consumption) dictate the necessity of constant monitoring of school meals in order to develop effective measures for prevention of diet­related disorders in children and adolescents.

Objective: Scientific analysis of the results of monitoring qualitative and quantitative indicators of school feeding and the prevalence of nutrition­related diseases in the child population.

Materials and methods: We examined reports and statistical data of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, findings of the surveys of school principals, children and parents, and results of analyzing parental control data for the 2020/21 academic year.

Results: Incidence rates of child and adolescent obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diseases of the circulatory system demonstrate a positive trend. We established the main reasons for high school students’ refusal of school meals, studied satisfaction of children and parents with school feeding, and assessed the results of parental control over school catering. High prevalence of nutrition­related diseases confirms the importance of monitoring school meals, developing innovative forms and revising their dominating stereotypes.

Conclusion: Assessment of diet­related disease rates in schoolchildren updates the significance of their nutrition and health monitoring, the study of nutrition structure, eating behavior, and school catering. The conducted survey of schoolchildren and parents has revealed key problems in school feeding, which require prompt correction. Outcomes of parental control are an additional indicator of nutrition quality at school. The reserve for improving the effectiveness of parental control can become systematization of this work and its evaluation with account for the days of the week and their corresponding menu items, as well as breaks and their corresponding contingents of children eating school meals.

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