ASSESSMENT OF MACRONUTRIENTS AND MINERAL ELEMENT CONTENTS IN LUNCH MEALS OF SOME SELECTED PRESCHOOLS IN THE CAPE COAST METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to assess macro nutrients and mineral element contents in lunch meals of some selected preschools in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Simple random sampling technique was used to select eight schools from the 21 private preschools that serve lunch meals to the children. The descriptive survey was used for the study and a content validated questionnaire and observation guide were used to seek the needed information from 51 cooks, 8 head teachers in 8 preschools. Food samples were collected on daily basis for five school days of a week and chemically analyzed using the procedures of Association of Official Analytical Chemist and Stewart, Grimshaw, Parkinson and Quarmby. The nutrient contents figures obtained were then compared with WHO Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). Frequencies, percentages and one sample t-test were used to analyze the data and presented in tables.

The main findings of the study indicated that children were not receiving adequate essential nutrients from the meals served at school. The mean intake for Carbohydrates was 45.22, 19.78 below RDI. Proteins mean was 9.10, 2.9 less RDI. Calcium also had a mean intake of 90.10 and this was 309.90 below the RDI. Virtually all the nutrients could not meet the 50% WHO recommendation for lunch. None of the schools studied served fresh fruits. It was also realized that funding of meals was the sole responsibility of parents and cooks did not have adequate knowledge on nutrition.

The important recommendations are that protein sources like meat and fish whose cost per unit weight is high could be supplemented with legumes and pulses that are relatively cheaper in order to improve the protein quality. Finally government should extend the school feeding programme to the preschool level to reduce cost and also relieve parents’ of solely funding their children’s school meals.