Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Applied Science in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction: South Africa, like many other developing countries, is challenged by malnutrition among children. Globally, the nutritional status of children is a cause for great concern. The nutritional shift towards diets laden with sugar, fat and salt contribute towards the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Snacking plays a pivotal role in the diets of children; however, the consumption of unhealthy snacks or ‘junk’ food poses a serious risk to a child’s nutritional well-being. Moringa oleifera was selected for snack food development in this study, as this plant is a significant source of nutrients. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the snacking preferences of children (grades 4-7 in four schools in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, in order to develop a sensory acceptable snack enhanced with Moringa oleifera. Methodology: Two hundred primary school children between grades 4-7 were selected through stratified random sampling of schools in Verulam, KZN, South Africa through informed consent to participate in this study. In addition, ten parents/caregivers formed part of the preliminary study to determine the snacking habits of children in the selected grades. This information was reported in the form of themes. A Snack Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ) was administered to children for the sole purpose of determining snacking preferences. This was supplemented by an observational study to assist with identifying the most frequent tuck shop purchases. Thereafter, once the top three snack items were identified, the main study continued with the development of a healthy snack, through three cooking trials before an appropriate product was developed. The final product was made using three different amounts of dried Moringa leaves (1g Moringa, 2g Moringa and 3g Moringa per 22g portion) in a maize chip. The developed product was then subjected to nutrient testing in order to determine the vitamin A, zinc, iron and calcium content of the three different variants. The carbohydrate, fat, energy and sodium values were calculated by using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International standardised methods. Microbiological and shelf life testing were also conducted to ensure the chips were safe for human consumption. Consumer acceptance sensory evaluation was conducted among the children (n=100) to determine the most preferred amount of Moringa leaf in the snack food item (either 1g of Moringa or 2g Moringa). To determine which of the two variants (sample 1 containing 1g of Moringa and sample 2 containing 2g Moringa) was preferred, two variants of the product were sampled by the participants; samples were coded in order to prevent bias. Results: Overall, the results from the focus group study revealed that children consumed snacks frequently and were given money regularly to purchase snack items from the school tuck shop. Price was a trend noted in factors that affect snack selection. The parents/caregivers responded positively towards purchasing a snack that was nutrient-rich. However, it was noted that the price should be reasonable. Results of the SFFQ indicated that the most popular snack items were chips, cold drinks and sweets; therefore these items were reviewed to determine the most viable option for further development. It was decided by the researcher and the supervisor that chips would be the snack item enhanced with three different amounts of Moringa. The consumer acceptance sensory evaluation comprised two chip samples (123 and ABC). The results of the consumer acceptance sensory evaluation showed that sample ABC (2g Moringa/22g serving) was preferred to sample 123 (1g Moringa/22g serving) for most of the sensory attributes (taste and texture). The Moringa chips (both samples) contain almost half the amount of sodium (52.8mg) when compared to a popular corn chip brand (100mg). Moringa chips contained almost less than 1 gram of fat compared to 8 grams of fat found in the corn chips children usually consume. One portion (22g) of the Moringa chips contributes a significant amount of non-haem iron (57.89%, 48.25% and 35.61% for sample 1, 2 and 3 respectively) for females aged between 9-13 years old. Conclusion: Moringa chips (2g/22g serving) received a positive response from children in the sample population. The use of indigenous plants such as Moringa, could be beneficial in food based strategies aimed at addressing malnutrition. Recommendations: This study concluded that food based strategies such as the development of the Moringa chips, should be considered as a means to create a healthy option for children in low socio-economic schools. / M

The present study was made without benefit of poster, films, bulletin board, or other teaching aids. It was undertaken to determine the nutritive values of the menus served, the foods selected by the plate lunches, and the amount of food wasted in two elementary, two junior high, and two senior high school lunch cafeterias in the City of Dallas during a six month period of time.

M. Tech. Food and Nutrition Tshwane University of Technology / The aim of this study was to explore and evaluate the management systems which are used for the NSNP (National School Nutrition Programme) in the City of Tshwane. The objectives of this study were set to include inter alia the evaluation of the human resource management system, quality and monitoring management system, the financial management system, purchasing and procurement system, the communication management system and capacity building management in the NSNP (National School Nutrition Programme).

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2012 / Introduction: An observational study was undertaken to assess the level of compliance of school nutrition with standard hygiene requirements prescribed by Regulations R918 of 30 July 1999. Aim: To assess the level of compliance of Primary School Nutrition Programme with standard hygiene requirements prescribed by Regulations R918 of 30 July 1999 in Bushbuckridge area. Study: The study was conducted in primary schools located in Bushbuckridge sub-district with an estimated population of 611.048 and 212 primary schools. Method: Observational study was conducted in schools and information regarding food preparation area, food storage rooms, environmental hygiene, personal hygiene and food transportation was recorded. Sampling: A random sampling was conducted to select schools in each circuit. Thirty two percent was used to determine the sample size. Sixty eight primary schools of a population of 212 were select from the various circuits in Bushbuckridge sub-district. Data was gathered using observation method. An observation data gathering tool was developed to collect the data that was needed for the study. Results: The study revealed that 24.3% of the schools prepare their food in kitchens that meet the standards and the requirements prescribed by the health regulations. However, 75.7% of the schools prepare their food in structures that do not comply with the health regulations. The study on environmental hygiene revealed that 95.7% of the schools do not provide toiletries in their latrines most of which are not waterborne. The study further revealed that 87% of the schools do not provide soap for hand washing in their latrines. The study on personal hygiene revealed that 61.4% of the schools do not provide protective clothing to the food handlers who prepare food for learners. The study on food transportation revealed that 100% of the vehicles used to deliver food in schools do not comply with the standards and the hygiene requirements prescribed by the health regulations. Conclusion: It can thus be concluded that the level of compliance of the school nutrition programme to the standards and the requirements prescribed by Regulations R918 of 30 July 1999 is minimal. Measures of precautions to safeguard food contaminations that may result in outbreaks are not adequately followed. The level of environmental hygiene responsible for the spread of most of the diseases in children is poor. There is a high percentage of non-compliance to the standards and the requirements prescribed by Regulations R918 of 30 July 1999.

CNPq / O Brasil é um país caracterizado pelo baixo consumo de pescado. Com registros de consumo de 10,6 kg/habitante/ano, encontra-se abaixo do recomendado pela ONU de 12 kg/habitante/ano. O consumo regular de pescado propicia ganho em saúde para as pessoas e sua introdução na alimentação escolar é estratégia importante para inserção do hábito de consumo desse alimento em uma população. Dentro desse contexto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi compreender a percepção de pescado com crianças da rede pública de ensino por meio das técnicas Mapeamento Projetivo (MP) e Associação de Palavras (AP); e avaliar a aceitação de derivado de pescado na alimentação escolar. Em um primeiro momento com a intenção de melhor entender a percepção de crianças de diferentes idades com relação a produtos à base de pescado, aplicaram-se as técnicas MP através do uso de figuras de alimentos e AP. Um total de 149 crianças de três escolas públicas da cidade de Pato Branco, estado do Paraná, Brasil, participaram deste estudo. Três grupos de crianças com idades entre 5-6 anos, 7-8 anos e 9-10 anos foram entrevistados individualmente por seis monitores com experiência nos métodos sensoriais aplicados. Dez figuras adesivadas com desenhos de alimentos saudáveis (Sushi, Salada, Frutas, Pescado, Frango), e alimentos menos saudáveis (Pizza, Pudim, Bolo, Hambúrguer, Batata frita), foram distribuídas para as crianças, as quais foram orientadas a colar os adesivos em folha A3, de modo que os produtos que elas considerassem parecidos ficassem próximos uns dos outros, e aqueles alimentos que fossem considerados muito diferentes ficassem distantes. Após, as crianças descreveram as imagens e os grupos de imagens (Perfil Ultra Flash). Os resultados revelaram que a técnica MP foi operada e compreendida facilmente por todas as crianças e que o uso das imagens facilitou a sua implantação. A análise dos resultados revelou também diferentes percepções vindas de crianças com diferentes idades e que percepções hedônicas com relação aos produtos à base de pescado tiveram um peso maior no percentual das crianças mais velhas. A técnica de AP provou ser ferramenta importante para entender a percepção do pescado pelas crianças, e reforçou os resultados obtidos previamente pelo MP. Em um segundo momento avaliou-se a aceitação de hambúrguer de pescado (tilapia) na alimentação escolar. Para isso merendeiras escolares foram capacitadas à elaboração dos hambúrgueres. Para a avaliação da aceitação utilizouse escala hedônica com 5 classificações faciais (1 = desgostei muito à 5 = gostei muito). Estudantes de ambos os gêneros, entre 5 e10 anos de idade (n = 142) provaram os hambúrgueres em horário de almoço, representando a porção proteica da refeição. Os derivados de tilápia elaborados revelaram ser alimentos com importante valor nutricional e baixo teor calórico. Pela aplicação da análise de regressão logística multinomial verificou-se efeito não significativo das variáveis idade e gênero na aceitação pelas crianças. Entretanto, significância estatística foi apurada na interação entre essas duas variáveis. Com índice de aceitação de 87% verificou-se potencialidade de consumo de hambúrgueres de pescado na merenda escolar. / Brazil is a country that is characterized by its low consumption of fish. With consumption records of 10.6 kg/ inhabitant/ year, it is lower than the recommended by the UN, that is 12 kg/ inhabitant/ year. The regular consumption of fish provides health gain for people and their introduction into the school feeding is an important strategy for the insertion of this food consumption habits in a population. In this context, the objective of this study was to understand the perception of fish with children from the public school system through the technical Projective Mapping (MP) and Association of Words (AP); and evaluate the acceptability of fish derivative in school meals. In the first instance with the intention to better understand the perception of children from different ages about the fish-based products, Projective Mapping techniques were applied through the use of food figures and word association. A total of 149 children from three public schools from Pato Branco, Paraná State, Brazil, took part in this study. Three groups of children aged 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10 years old were interviewed individually by six monitors experienced in applied sensory methods. Ten figures with healthy foods drawings (sushi, salad, fruit, fish, chicken), and less healthy foods (pizza, pudding, cake, hamburger, fries) were distributed to the children, who were asked to paste the figures in A3 sheet, so that the products they considered similar stayed near each other, and the ones considered very different stayed apart. After this, the children described the images and the image groups (Ultra Flash Profile). The results revealed that the MP technique was easily operated and understood by all the children and the use of images made its implementation easier. The results analysis also revealed different perceptions came from children from different ages and hedonic perceptions regarding the fish-based products had a greater weight in the percentage from older children. AP technique proved to be an important tool to understand the perception of fish by children, and strengthened the results previously obtained by the MP. In a second step it was evaluated the acceptance of fish burger (tilapia) in school meals. For this task, the school cooks were trained to prepare the hamburgers. For the evaluation of acceptance, the hedonic scale was used with 5 facial ratings (1 = disliked very much to 5 = liked a lot). Students from both genders, between 5 to 10 years old (n = 142) proved the burgers at lunchtime, representing the protein portion of the meal. The tilapia derivative products shown to be foods with important nutritional value and low calorie value. For the application of the multinomial logistic regression analysis there was no significant effect from the age and gender variation in the acceptance by children. However, statistical significance was determined in the interaction between these two variables. With 87 % acceptance rate there was potential for consumption of fish burgers in school meals.

It is the purpose of this study to determine the effects of mid-morning lunch and afternoon rest on the general health, personality and academic advancement of the first and second grade students in the Ponder, Texas, Elementary School.

The primary research question to be answered from this study was: to what degree have school districts in the County of San Bernardino been able to respond to federal legislation mandating the design and implementation of local school wellness policies. A major finding was that the majority of districts have not yet implemented nutrition and wellness policies.

Thesis (MPhil) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In an increasingly complex world where food security remains a challenge in many areas and especially Africa; it is essential to educate children about food – from production to consumption; and to ensure they eat enough as this is a crucial factor for concentration and learning abilities. How can we teach children about food in a sustainable way? This study focuses on schools in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, which have a school feeding programme, school garden and nutrition curriculum. The question studied is: To what extent do two primary schools in central- and east Tigray (North Ethiopia) integrate the feeding scheme, school garden and nutrition curriculum? The methodology chosen is a case study and the empirical data was collected through interviews, surveys and observations. Principals of 14 schools were interviewed about the school gardens, curricula and school gardens. Two schools were then selected for a further in-depth research. The school gardens, mostly initiated by the staff, serve the purpose of creating income for the school and teaching students the skills of gardening. The curriculum is standard for Tigray and focuses on different food types and creating a balanced diet. The school food in most schools is provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), but some exceptions exist. This research shows that integration between the three objectives will be beneficial. Obstacles include getting the staff ‘on board’ as a priority and controlling the unification of the three, for example schools feel that they have less ownership over the feeding scheme because it is organised by an external NGO. This study suggests stakeholders view school gardens, nutrition education and school feeding schemes under one umbrella for the ultimate benefit of creating a sustainable model to teach about food. The case study provides an insight to the specific challenges in Tigray, Ethiopia but important conclusions can also be generalised. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ’n toenemend komplekse wêreld waar voedsel sekuriteit in baie gebiede, veral in Afrika ’n uitdaging bly, is dit baie belangrik om kinders oor voedsel op te voed - vanaf produksie tot by die verbruik daarvan, en ook om seker te maak dat hulle genoeg eet, wat baie belangrik is vir konsentrasie en die vermoë om te leer. Hoe kan ons kinders op ’n volhoubare manier leer oor voeding? Hierdie studie fokus op twee skole in Tigray, in Ethiopië wat skoolvoedingskemas, skooltuine en voedingkurrikula het. Die vraag wat gevra is, is: Tot watter mate integreer hierdie twee skole in Tigray die voedingskemas, die skooltuine en die voedingkurrikula? Die gekose metodologie is ’n gevallestudie. Empiriese data is ook deur middel van onderhoude, oorsigte en observasies versamel. Onderhoude oor skooltuine, voedingskemas en die kurrikula is gevoer met die skoolhoofde van 14 skole. Twee skole is toe gekies vir in-diepte navorsing. Die skooltuine bring geld in vir die skool en word ook gebruik om vir die leerling tuinmaakvaardighede aan te leer. Die kurrikulum is standaard vir die hele Tigray en word deur die Wêreld Voedsel Program verskaf. Daar is egter ’n paar uitsonderings. In hierdie navorsing is daar bewys dat die integrasie van die skooltuin, die voedingskema en die kurrikula, goeie gevolge kan hê. Dit is egter belangrik dat die skool personeel moet saamwerk en dat die vereniging van die drie beheer moet word. Skole voel bv. Tans dat hulle nie eienaarskap oor die voedingskema het nie, want dit word deur eksterne NROs beheer. Hierdie navorser stel voor dat die skooltuine, skoolvoedingskema en die voedingkurrikulum onder een sambreel beskou moet word met die doel om ’n volhoudbare model vir die onderrig van voeding te skep. Die gevallestudie verskaf insig in die spesifieke uitdagings in Tigray, Ethiopië, maar belangrike slotsomme kan ook veralgemeen word.

This study assessed the diets of participants in the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP). Data were gathered from three cross-sectional surveys of students in grades four to six in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. Single 24-hour recall interviews were conducted in 2002 (n = 151), 1998 (n = 153) and 1994 (n = 164). Mean number of servings of Vegetables and Fruits (3.6 per day), Milk Products (1.6 per day), and Meat and Alternatives (1.5 per day) were found to be below ranges recommended by Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Correspondingly, mean intakes of fibre, calcium and vitamin D were found to be below Adequate Intake references. Positive changes detected include a decrease in soda consumption and a shift toward whole grains. Results indicate that improved nutrient intakes will require closer adherence to the principles of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. KSDPP intervention staff are using results as a basis for intervention.

Aim: To determine whether the tuck shop purchasing habits of Grade 4 learners were contributing towards the development of childhood overweight and obesity. Objectives: To assess the nutritional quality of the food and beverages available for learners to purchase; items regularly purchased from the tuck shop as well as factors influencing the learner’s decision to purchase these items; the anthropometric and socio-demographic characteristics of grade 4 learners as well as their nutrition knowledge related to the tuck shop items purchased. Method: A survey administered to 11 tuck shop managers, a questionnaire administered to 311 Grade 4 learners and two single-sex focus groups of 5 learners each were conducted. Results: Fifty six percent of the sample were female (n=173) and 44% were male (n=138). Twenty seven percent of the study sample was overweight (n = 83) and 27% were obese (n = 85). Eighty six percent of learners (n = 266) claimed to buy from their school tuck shop. Twenty two percent of learners purchased from their tuck shop at least three times per week (n =58). Learners who purchased from the tuck shop had a significantly higher BMI than those who did not (p = 0.020). Learners who purchased from the tuck shop spent on average R8,38 per day with a minimum of R1 and a maximum of R40 (standard deviation R5.39). The most popular reasons for visiting the tuck shop included “this is my favourite thing to eat or drink” (66.5%, n = 177) and “I only have enough money to buy this item” (47.0%, n = 125). Savoury pies were the most popular "lunch" item for all learners for both food breaks (45%, n = 5 schools and 27.3%, n = 3 schools) selling the most number of units (43) per day at eight of the eleven schools (72.7%). Iced popsicles were sold at almost every school, ranked as the cheapest beverage and also sold the most number of units (40.7). Healthy beverages sold included canned fruit juice and water, while healthy snacks consisted of dried fruit, fruit salad, bananas, yoghurt and health muffins. The average healthy snack contained almost half the kilojoules of its unhealthy counterpart (465kJ vs 806kJ). Nutritional analyses of the healthy lunch options revealed total fat contents that exceeded the DRI and South African recommended limit. Perceived barriers to stocking healthy items included cost and refrigeration restrictions. The average score for the food groups was only 33% indicating that learners were not familiar with the Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG). Further analyses showed that the total knowledge scores of those learners that reported to buy from the tuck shop frequently, was significantly lower when compared to the total knowledge scores of those learners who bought from the tuck shop less frequently (13.0 ± 3.9 and 11.6 ± 3.1, respectively; p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the total knowledge of a learner could be used to predict whether he or she is more likely to make purchases from the tuck shop (significance = 0.017). Focus group results revealed that learners are aware of “healthy” and “unhealthy” tuck shop items. Most learners stated that they would continue to purchase items from their tuck shop if all “unhealthy” items were removed. Conclusion: Primary school tuck shops of well resourced schools in Pietermaritzburg are contributing to childhood overweight and obesity through a combination of factors. These include the poor nutritional quality of the items stocked at the tuck shop as well as the poor tuck shop purchasing practices. Much consultation is required amongst dieticians, school principals and privatised tuck shop managers to overcome barriers to stocking healthy items. School management and government have an important role to play in imposing restrictions on the sale of unhealthy items; along with improving the quality of the nutrition education curriculum to ensure that learners are able to translate their knowledge into healthier purchasing practices. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.