The food and nutrient intake of 5- to 12-year-old Australian children during school hours: a secondary analysis of the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

Abstract

Objective: School food intake of Australian children is not comprehensively described in literature, with limited temporal, nationally representative data. Greater understanding of intake at school can inform school-based nutrition promotion. This study aimed to describe the dietary intake of primary-aged children during school hours and its contribution to daily intake.

Design: This secondary analysis used nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the 2011 to 2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Dietary intake was assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls on school days. Descriptive statistics were undertaken to determine energy, nutrients, food groups and food products consumed during school hours, as well as their contributions to total daily intake. Associations between school food intake and socio-demographic characteristics were explored.

Setting: Australia.

Participants: Seven hundred and ninety-five children aged 5-12 years.

Results: Children consumed 37 % of their daily energy and 31-43 % of select nutrient intake during school hours, with discretionary choices contributing 44 % of school energy intake. Most children consumed less than one serve of vegetables, meat and alternatives or milk and alternatives during school hours. Commonly consumed products were discretionary choices (34 %, including biscuits, processed meat), bread (17 %) and fruit (12 %). There were limited associations with socio-economic position variables, apart from child age.

Conclusions: Children's diets were not aligned with national recommendations, with school food characterised by high intake of discretionary choices. These findings are consistent with previous Australian evidence and support transformation of the Australian school food system to better align school food consumption with recommendations.

Keywords: Children; Discretionary foods; Energy intake; Energy-dense nutrient-poor; Primary school; School health.

Fig. 1

Participant flow of the sample of 5- to 12-year-old children from the NNPAS 2011–2012*. *National Nutrition and Physical activity survey 2011–2012

Fig. 2

Most frequently consumed food product categories* of discretionary foods during school hours by Australian children aged between 5- and- 12-years using the NNPAS 2011–2012. *Percentage of discretionary food products consumed within school in each food sub-category, out 1537 discretionary food products