A Knowledge of Healthy Eating Habits in Primary School Aged Children from Prizren

Importance of healthy eating attitudes of school children

Abstract

 Understanding children’s eating attitudes and their behaviour is important in terms of children’s health. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Healthy eating is indicated by consuming fair amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low milk – fat milk and milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts, while avoiding saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars within daily calories needs. The fundamental issues behind public health concerns for young people are the changes in food habits that have developed as a result of the globalization of food. Healthy nutrition interventions need to occur early in childhood and adolescence in order to prevent or reverse the adverse health effects of overweight and poor eating habits. Primary school age is the time children start enjoying busy social lives, have pocket money and begin to develop their own interests and lifestyle. Children of this age learn quickly and are influenced by friends and popular trends.  This study was carried out to describe knowledge of school age children in primary school in Prizren. There were 60 children’s, when 29 children’s (48%) were females and 31 children’s (52%) were males. The research was conducted mainly with ages from 11-15 years old. The present study aimed to focus solely on the intake of fruits and vegetables, meat, fast-food, dough and pasta and salads are often the reason where many of the problems with food intake occur these ages.

Based on findings Ministry of Education in Kosovo should integrate nutrition education and healthy school food environment aimed to improved knowledge, attitude and practice on nutrition, eating behaviors and physical activity.

Even we do not have nutrition intervention programs in any public school in Kosovo, is very necessary to have training of school teacher on the nutrition education curriculum. And finally schools must focused on promoting healthy school food environment in Kosovo. Therefore it is important to develop an intervention that integrates nutrition education, especially the school canteens that can exert a strong influence on children’s food decisions.

Keywords: Knowledge, eating habits, school children, healthy eating