Snack Consumption and Knowledge about Healthy Snacks of Grade 4-6 Students of Chumchonnonsomboon School Located in Rural Area, Kaosuankwang District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Objective : This research aimed to study snack consumption and knowledge about healthy snacks of grade 4-6 students of Chumchonnonsomboon School, located in the rural area of Kaosuankwang district, Khon kaen province. Cross-sectional descriptive rearch The sample population of this research were 93 grade 4-6 students of Chumchonnonsomboon School. Data were collected by questionnaires, food record of snack consumption, and 24 hour dietary recall. Data were collected during November to December 2012. Data from questionnaires and food recordof snack consumption were analyzed using descriptive statistic. INMUCAL-nutrients were used for analyzing nutrients. The relationship between frequency of healthy snack consumption and knowledge about healthy snacks of grade 4-6 students were analyzed using Fisherûs exact test at the 0.05 level of significance.

Results : revealed that junk food was the most popular type of snacks of students in the rural area. The source of snacks of most students was school cooperation stores (86%). The snack time of most students was mid morning. The type of snacks that most students often consumed (4-6 times per week) or very often consumed was milk and milk products, and junk foods. The median value of energy from the snack consumption of the students was 616.6 kcal per day (Q ₁- Q₃ = 484.3 - 871.7) or 37.8% of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). which was more than the recommended level.The median value of energy from the healthy snack consumption of the students was 244.3 kcal per day (Q₁- Q₃ = 167.5 - 351.9). Most students (60.2%) had knowledge about healthy snacks at good level. In addition, it was also found that there was statistically different relationship between the frequency of healthy snack consumption (such as fruits, nuts and grains, milk and milk products) and the level of knowledge about healthy snacks of students