Effects of Occasional Mid-Morning Snacks on Dietary Behaviors and School Life in Elementary School Students

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2011;16(6):661-671

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 December 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.6.661

Eun-Ji Park ¹, Yuri Kim ², Yunsook Lim ¹^,³

¹Nutrition Education Major, Graduate School of Education, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Yunsook Lim, Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-dong, Dongdamun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea. Tel: (02) 961-0262, Fax: (02) 968-0260, ylim@khu.ac.kr

Received 2011 August 25; Revised 2011 September 30; Accepted 2011 November 07.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of occasional mid-morning snacks (MMS) on dietary behaviors and school life among elementary students. The students, mothers, and teachers from two elementary schools in Seoul were selected. The schools have been provided a steamed sweet-potato or potato, or a piece of ricecake or cake with a pack of milk as MMS 3-4 times a month for more than 3 years. Most students were satisfied with the MMS. Mothers and teachers reported that their children or students were happier, more active, and more energetic in school with MMS. Furthermore, the students answered that they could drink milk better on the day when the school provided MMS. Many students felt that it was relevant to serve a simple menu at lunch time if they were served MMS. Also, students became more interested in school meals or foods with MMS. In addition, mothers who had jobs wanted more frequent MMS. The degree of satisfaction about MMS of the teachers was higher than that of students or mothers. Many teachers thought that their students drank milk better with MMS and further, that it made students to drink more milk on other days. In conclusion, MMS had positive effects on the dietary behavior and school life of elementary students. Therefore, it can be a good option for eliminating skipping breakfast because it provides more nutrition, makes students drink more milk, and allows students to enjoy school activities more.

Keywords: mid-morning snacks; dietary behavior; school life; elementary school students

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Article information Continued

Table 1

General Characteristics of the subjects

Table 2

Dietary behaviors of students

1) N (%), 2) ^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.001

Table 3

Nutrition knowledge, school life, and dietary behaviors related to MMS by frequency of breakfast (n = 396)1)

1) Total numbers of respondence among subjects

2) Mean ± SD

3) a,b For a given column, data not sharing a common superscript letter are statistically significantly different at P < 0.05

4) Scale of 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree

5) ^*: p < 0.05, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 4

Dietary behavior related to MMS by gender

1) Mean ± SD

2) Scale of 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree

3) ^*: p < 0.05

Table 5

MMS menu preferred by students

1) N (%)

Table 6

Perception and satisfaction of mothers and teachers in relation to MMS

1) Mean ± SD

2) a,b For a given column, data not sharing a common superscript letter are statistically significantly different at p < 0.05

3) Scale of 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree

4) ^*: p < 0.05, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 7

Mother's perception toward MMS in relation to children's school life and dietary behaviors by mother's working status

1) Mean ± SD

2) Scale of 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree

3) ^*: p < 0.05, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 8

Comparison of opinion on light lunch menu with MMS between mothers and teachers

1) N (%)

2) ^***: p < 0.001