Beschreibung:
A total of 103 secondary school children attending five schools managed by Lothian Regional Council were surveyed to establish nutrition knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about healthy eating and their patterns of food consumption at lunchtime on schooldays. The results indicate that nutrition knowledge was surprisingly good and the children surveyed were proficient at identifying foods that were high in fibre and low in sugar, salt and fat. When questioned about their liking for foods, however, many identified foods that were characteristically high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre. Examination of the dietary diaries kept at lunchtime confirmed that consumption of these types of foods was typically high, with very low consumption of fruit and vegetables being reported and high intakes of carbonated drinks, confectionery and chocolate. This conflict between nutrition knowledge and food choice patterns is discussed in the light of the probable future effects on health and the implications for health educators.